Protecting yourself against the COVID-19 outbreak

Jessie, a German exchange student in Korea, discusses with her friends how to protect oneself against the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.

Jessie: My parents are visiting Korea next month. They're going to come see me for the first time since I came here as an exchange student.

Pedro: That's great. But be careful since the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread around the world.

Huong: Yeah, that's true. I have a friend who wants to come to Korea but has the same fear.

Su-hyeon: Don't worry. I'll give you tips so that you can travel in Korea more safely. First, let's go over what happens at Incheon International Airport after your parents' flight arrives.

Jessie: OK, what happens?



Su-hyeon: The airport is implementing strict measures to detect carriers of the virus and prevent its spread. China, Hong Kong and Macao have been designated "contaminated areas," so passengers from those places have to undergo a special entry process.

Huong: I guess it's to prevent spreading the virus to other passengers. What's this process like?

Su-hyeon: The process has three steps. First, passengers have to fill out the Health Declaration Form, especially if they have fever or respiratory problems. Then they have to fill out the Travel Record Declaration with the address of the place they'll stay at in Korea, their cell phone number and whether they've recently visited China's Hubei Province. This information is the basis for their inspections and passengers are quarantined if they're diagnosed with any suspicious symptoms. If no symptoms are found, the last step is confirming the passengers' contact information in Korea. After that, they can enter the country.

Pedro: I know. I heard on the news that if your contact information in Korea cannot be confirmed or you've been to Hubei in the last two weeks, you cannot enter the country.

Su-hyeon: Yes, every arriving passenger at the Incheon airport must pass through fever detection sensors. The airport has two lines for special quarantine: one for special entry and the other for regular entry (of just passing through sensors and no forms). So don't worry about COVID-19.

Jessie: I see. I'm planning to meet my parents at the airport and take them to Seoul on AREX (Airport Railroad Express). Is there anything else I should know?

Su-hyeon: Using public transportation could expose people to the virus. So to prevent infection, use hand sanitizer and masks on buses and taxis and at subway and train stations.

Huong: That's true. I forgot my mask at home yesterday but I used the hand sanitizer available in the bus.

Su-hyeon: Free hand sanitizer is available for use at select markets, banks and other public places.

Pedro: Don't forget to follow basic tips like frequently washing your hands, wearing masks and avoiding places designated "special management zones" by the government such as Daegu and Cheongdo-gun County and Gyeongsan in Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.


Jessie: Thank you very much. Getting this information is helpful. But what should I do if I get a fever, cough or respiratory problems while traveling?

Su-hyeon: Call the toll-free hotline 1345 immediately. Please remember this number.

Huong: I do know this number. It's for the Immigration Contact Center, right?

Su-hyeon: Yes. Just call 1345 without an area code, and you can get information on COVID-19 in 20 languages including English, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Pedro: I guess you can call that number first and then take the next steps.

Jessie: That's easy to remember. I should tell this to my parents in Germany before they come here.

Su-hyeon: Yep, protect yourself and your parents by taking the right precautions. Try to have a good time with your parents in Korea.

Written by Jung Joo-ri
Translated by Lee Jihae
Illustrated by Yuhaill
etoilejr@korea.kr