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First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Se-young meets with US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Mar. 4. (Yonhap News)

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is instituting measures requiring airlines to check temperatures for all passengers and question them about potential novel coronavirus symptoms prior to boarding for all US-bound flights departing from South Korea or northern Italy, the South Korean Embassy in Washington announced on Mar. 4. The measure goes into effect for all flights as of Mar. 5, 11 am (South Korea time).

With this measure, passengers on US-bound flights originating at Incheon International Airport will need to undergo temperature testing prior to boarding; those with a temperature of 38 degrees or higher will not be allowed to board. Boarding will also prohibited to those who report in their interview that they have experienced coronavirus-associated symptoms such as coughing, runny noses, and chills; visited medical facilities in risk regions within the preceding 14 days; worked or been hospitalized in such facilities; or been in contact with someone who has tested positive.

Amid the intensifying US entry procedures for South Korean passengers, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Se-young met that afternoon with US Ambassador to South Korea Harry Harris at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explain about South Korea’s systematic disease control efforts and request that the US refrain from excessive measures.

“I think it's indicative of the fact that Korea's leading in the global fight [against the coronavirus],” Harris said.

“We're very impressed with all that Korea's doing,” he added.

While the US has yet to impose entry restrictions on South Korea, some are predicting that it may impose more stringent measures, with President Donald Trump remarking that he was observing South Korea, Italy, and Japan closely in connection with travel restrictions associated with the outbreak. As of Mar. 4, 2 pm, the African nation of Burundi and two others were added to the list of countries imposing entry restrictions on passengers arriving from outh Korea, bringing the total up to 94.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

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