USFK Public Health Emergency Extended for 30 Days
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[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The United States Forces Korea (USFK) has decided to extend the public health emergency for 30 days. Although the risk within USFK facilities has not increased, this is a preventive measure.
On the 24th, the USFK Command announced, "To prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the public health emergency will be extended for 30 days starting today and will remain in effect until May 23 unless renewed or terminated earlier."
USFK declared a public health emergency on April 25 as the possibility of exposure to the COVID-19 virus increased in areas adjacent to USFK facilities. Without an extension, the emergency was set to expire yesterday. USFK emphasized that the extension of the emergency does not mean that the risk within USFK facilities has increased, and that the current health protection posture and preventive mitigation measures will not change.
Among the 58,000 personnel related to USFK, less than 1% have been infected with COVID-19, but the risk is still present. It was also pointed out that a small number of individuals did not follow or comply with strict control measures. Since the declaration of the public health emergency, the USFK commander has banned seven USFK-affiliated civilians who failed to follow preventive control measures from entering USFK facilities for two years.
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The declaration of the emergency aims to expand the commander's authority rather than change the current preventive measures. USFK is currently enforcing preventive measures such as banning large gatherings and restricting base access. With the emergency declaration, the USFK commander can order the implementation of preventive measures not only for soldiers but also for soldiers' families and civilian employees, and hold them accountable for violations. In USFK, which maintains the risk level across the Korean Peninsula as "high," a total of 25 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, including two active-duty soldiers.
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