Foreign arrivals in South Korea infected with the new coronavirus are required to share the costs of their treatment, with those who violate local rules being obligated to fully pay the bill, health authorities said on Monday.

The authorities said they would request COVID-infected foreign arrivals to pay the costs for their medical services if they are found to have violated quarantine rules.

According to the authorities, from Aug. 24, the country will charge them a different amount by considering the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.

South Korea has been providing free medical services to all COVID-19 patients reported, including foreigners.

There have been growing calls for foreign arrivals to share the burden, as the prolonged virus pandemic is poised to further burden taxpayers.

South Korea has been cautious about changing its free-of-charge treatment policy due to diplomatic issues.

Even under the new policy, South Korea, however, will still exempt all costs for foreigners who are infected with the virus here or foreign residents who are settled here and pay taxes in order to curb community spread.

Foreigners enrolled in the country’s public health care insurance will also be eligible for state support.

The country reported 197 more cases of the new coronavirus as it battled sporadic outbreaks in Seoul and its neighboring area amid growing fears of a resurgence in the greater Seoul area.

According to the Korea Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the additional COVID-19 cases, including 188 local infections, raised the country’s total caseload to 15,515

KCDC added that of the new cases 188 were local transmissions.