4 Koreans Test Positive for COVID-19 After Europe Trips

Four Koreans who arrived from Europe over the weekend tested positive for coronavirus at Incheon International Airport, health authorities said Monday.

It was the first time that passengers tested positive on arrival since a 35-year-old Chinese woman on Jan. 20, the first confirmed case in Korea. A total of 22 people traveling from Europe have tested positive in Korea so far.

The government expanded special health screening for arrivals from all countries effective early Monday morning.

There had been widespread criticism of gaping loopholes in previous screening after some 50 arrivals from abroad had passed the screening process at the airport but tested positive later.

However, only two travelers have so far been quarantined and only one has been denied entry as a result of special screening at the airport.

The problem is that it is difficult to identify infected people with mild or no symptoms, and special screening cannot be effective unless arrivals cooperate voluntarily.