Lee Sang-won, heading the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s epidemiological analysis division, said at a news briefing that while traveling carries risks, bringing back mandatory quarantines for all passengers was not being considered at the moment.
“Monkeypox hasn’t reached South Korea yet and although no travel is risk-free, reciprocity must be taken into account before imposing additional rules,” said Lee Sang-won.
The agency said a new set of travel rules would be introduced after the World Health Organization declares a public health emergency of international concern. COVID-19 was first declared as such on Jan. 30, 2020, a status that has still remains.
“We have had diagnostic tests for monkeypox ready since 2016, and are in the process of expanding testing capacity at laboratories…