The Korean Embassy in the Philippines has advised Filipinos going to South Korea to get health insurance to cover medical costs if they test positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) while in the country. 

According to the embassy, starting on Aug. 24, all foreigners who get infected in South Korea within 14 days from entry must shoulder their own medical expenses. 

“Up to the present, the Korean government has subsidized all incurred expenses of foreigners who were COVID-19 positive in Korea,” the embassy said. 

For Filipinos in South Korea, the Korean government will shoulder the hospital room charges but the travelers will have to pay for their treatment and food. 

This is a reciprocal gesture by South Korea as “the Philippine government has partially or conditionally supported treatment costs for Korean nationals who tested positive for COVID-19 and who were confined in government hospitals and other medical facilities.” 

“Therefore, we hereby recommend all Filipinos to secure private health insurance that could cover treatments received in foreign countries like Korea before entering,” the embassy added. 

In addition, it said that “mutual agreements can be made in the event that the Philippine government will enlarge its financial support coverage for Koreans in the Philippines.” 

But the Korean Embassy warned that “irresponsible foreigners and people who disobey Korean government’s quarantine policy (e.g. submitting fake medical certificate, violating order to be isolated etc.) shall shoulder all the medical costs starting from August 17, 2020.”

South Korea has experienced an increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last two weeks , mostly related to religious gatherings.

For example, there were 70 cases linked to the Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul City. 

The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 197 new cases today: 188 were local infections and nine were imported cases from Bangladesh, 2; Kyrgyzstan, 1; Indonesia 1; Kuwait, 1; Malta, 1; the United States, 1; Algeria 1; and South Africa, 1.

As of Aug. 17, South Korea’s confirmed COVID-19 cases totaled 15,515, including 2,651 imported cases. Of the total, 13,917 have recovered and 305 have died, leaving 1,293 active cases under isolation. 

The surge in the number of positive cases has prompted the Korean government to raise social distancing to level 2 in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province starting Aug. 16.

Under this, the government has urged people not to go to work if they feel sick; postpone or cancel non-essential outings, social gatherings, events, and travel; wear masks if they are going out; avoid crowded, confined, and close-contact places with poor ventilation; and maintain a physical distance of at least one meter from other people.