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Many people have made it safely out of the Covid-19 pandemic, and some have even gone on long-awaited overseas trips.

Others, however, are not out of the pandemic woods yet, including one couple from Singapore who were forced to spend 7/8ths of their holiday to South Korea in quarantine in an accredited facility.

What adds insult to injury is that the couple, a Mr Li and Ms Huang, spent almost $3,000 for flights, hotels, and travel other necessities for their long-planned and quite overdue holiday to Korea.

They told Shin Min Daily News they had intended to spend four days in Seoul and the rest of their trip at Jeju Island.

But Covid reared its ugly head, despite the fact that Mr Li and Ms Huang, who are both 25, are fully vaccinated. 

Additionally, the results of the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) for both were negative.

They had taken the tests before the flight, but started showing symptoms of the virus while on board the plane.

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On July 13, the first day of their holiday, the Covid test results of Mr Li and Ms Huang ended up being positive.

According to that country’s current regulations, short-term visitors to South Korea must take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) shortly after arrival either at the airport or at a medical facility near their accommodation.

“If the on-arrival test result is positive, 7-day quarantine is required. Korean nationals and ARC holders may self-quarantine at home while short-term visitors will serve the quarantine at an allocated quarantine facility,” according to an Embassy Notice from the Republic of Korea.

Mr Li and Ms Huang, therefore, had to stay in a quarantine hotel for seven days upon their arrival in Korea.

At first, they did not think they had contracted Covid, even though they both had dry and itchy throats during the flight.

Mr Li later had a fever and a sore throat, and Ms Huang lost her voice.

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They both felt better soon and by the eighth day, upon release from quarantine, they spent their last day in Korea shopping and eating.

They are hoping they’ll be able to recoup some of their losses since they had bought travel insurance for the trip.

/TISG

Despite current COVID-19 wave being the highest since March, Ong Ye Kung says it’s not as severe as Omicron outbreak earlier in the year