외국 선박 음성 확인 돼야 상륙 허가...외국인 환자 치료비 '본인 부담'<br /><br />The South Korean government will only permit entry to sailors who have tested negative for COVID-19 prior to arriving in the country,... as the nation is facing an increasing amount of imported cases.<br />In addition,... the government may no longer offer free COVID-19 treatment for foreign patients,... starting with those who violate quarantine measures.<br />Lee Seung-jae reports.<br />With strict quarantine measures and guidelines in place,... the number of local COVID-19 transmissions has been on a steady decline.<br />The big concern now are the high number of imported cases.<br />Over the past two weeks,... the nation has been averaging over 31 imported cases a day,... twelve more than the previous two week average.<br />As a result,... the government will now require all sailors on foreign ships to submit a document indicating negative tests,... within 48 hours of departure,... and test negative again,... before they are allowed to dock .<br />"We plan to minimize the number of ships coming in, by conducting strict inspections on the crew and only approving the ships if they all test negative."<br />The high number of imported cases has also put a strain on the cost of treatment.<br />On Sunday,... Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said South Korea will push to revise the law to require foreign COVID-19 patients to cover the costs of their treatment.<br />He said the increasing number of foreign patients among the imported cases could strain the nation's medical system.<br />He added the country will either make foreign patients pay all or part of the costs for their hospitalization,... but "under the principle of reciprocity considering diplomatic relations."<br />As it stands,... in-hospital and treatment expenses for confirmed patients are covered by the government regardless of nationality.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.<br /><br />
