The government will charge foreign coronavirus patients for the partial or entire cost of their treatment here.
“If the number of cases shown continues to increase among those abroad, this can be a huge burden on our fitness system,” said Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun. “In the interest of diplomatic relations, we will apply a provision of reciprocity,” that is, those countries that offer a flexible remedy to Korean citizens will also gain advantages here.
The first step will be to qualify foreigners who have violated the rules of self-isolation. However, the government will continue to take the evidence, as they will involve the epidemic.
Until recently, the government had insisted that filling the full charge of treating foreigners showed that it was inflamed in Korea of the world standard. But as public opinion deteriorated after an increase in the number of foreigners inflate, such as the sailors of a Russian shipment moored in Busan, the government changed their minds.
A total of 78 Russian trawlers tested positive last month. According to Busan Medical Center, the average repair cost for the 20 that have already been released was 8 million won (1 USD – 1,203 W). Now it is estimated that 620 million won will be spent for all.
Of the 440 instances shown that have arrived in the last two weeks since July 12, 249, or 57%, were foreign nationals. Over the weekend, Korea registered 171 new instances, a three-digit accumulation for the first time in approximately 4 months. Some 132 arrived here from Array, mostly Korean personnel transported by plane from Iraq, and 46 were foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, Korea reported 25 new cases of coronavirus on Monday morning, bringing the total to 14175.