US Forces Korea Lift Restricted Access Zones in Daegu Area

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has lifted the restriction on troop access to the Daegu area related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

On the 16th, USFK announced via Facebook, "General Robert Abrams, Commander of USFK, declared that from 4 p.m. the previous day, the Daegu area will be removed from the troop access restricted zone (hotspot)."

Following this lifting, U.S. military personnel stationed at bases in Daegu or other regions can visit downtown Daegu or the Daegu area with commander approval.

However, USFK decided to maintain the public health protection condition (HPCON) and movement restrictions for other areas designated as hotspots, excluding Daegu. USFK mainly designated areas with a high number of COVID-19 confirmed cases as hotspots. Once designated as a hotspot, meaning a special management area, movement to that area is restricted without commander approval.

When COVID-19 confirmed cases surged in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions on February 19, the U.S. military raised the HPCON risk level from 'Low' to 'Moderate' and designated the area as a hotspot. Subsequently, on February 25, the risk level for the entire Korean Peninsula was elevated to 'High' and has been maintained since.

According to Daegu City and the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 16th, the number of COVID-19 patients in Daegu increased by 4 from the previous day to 6,827. The number of new confirmed cases in Daegu has remained in single digits for six consecutive days following a record of '0' on the 10th. The USFK is believed to have lifted the restricted access zone considering this trend in Daegu.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.