MERS outbreak easing – South Korea’s travel alert downgraded to “gray”

▲MERS situation in South Korea improves as the MOFA travel alert turns gray. (Photo / Digitals First / AP)

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

The outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS) in South Korea has eased, prompting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to downgrade the country’s travel alert from “yellow” to “gray” on Aug. 7. The public is still advised to pay attention to personal hygiene, respiratory protection, and hand hygiene when traveling there.

At 6:36 p.m. on Aug. 7, the ministry announced that it was downgrading the travel alert level for South Korea from “yellow – exercise special caution and consider whether to travel” to “gray – be reminded to take precautions.”The decision was based on five factors: no evidence of community transmission in South Korea’s MERS-CoV outbreak; only four new confirmed cases since July 1 with no additional fatalities; declining instances of hospital-acquired infections; the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lowering its travel health notice level for South Korea; the World Health Organization (WHO) repeatedly stating in press releases that there is no need for travel or trade restrictions on South Korea; and the three largest sources of tourists to South Korea – China, Japan, and the United States – having only issued advisories urging personal hygiene precautions for their citizens traveling to the country, or classifying travel advice for South Korea as “practice usual precautions” (which is similar to Taiwan’s “gray – be reminded to take precautions” level).

According to data released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as of the morning of Aug. 7, South Korea had recorded a total of 186 MERS cases, all of which were hospital-acquired. Of those, 33 patients have died (a fatality rate of 17.7%), 118 infected individuals have been discharged after recovering, and 35 patients remain hospitalized in isolation.

On Aug. 7, Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control (CDC) also downgraded its travel health notice for South Korea to Level 1 “Watch,” advising travelers who require medical treatment in South Korea to visit one of the 285 “Safe Hospitals” designated by the South Korean government.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminds Taiwanese citizens traveling to MERS-affected areas to continue paying attention to personal hygiene, respiratory protection, and hand hygiene. The ministry will closely monitor the development of the MERS situation in South Korea and update relevant information for the public. Taiwanese nationals in South Korea facing emergencies and in need of assistance should contact the nearest Taiwanese representative office.

[Travel Alert Levels]

Red (High): Not recommended for travel
Orange (Medium): Exercise high caution, avoid non-essential
Yellow (Low): Pay attention to travel safety and consider whether to proceed
Gray (Light): Reminder to stay alert