Authorities: "Iraq Construction Site Workers Presumed Infected Locally... Low Possibility of In-Flight Infection"

COVID-19 Central Disease Control Headquarters Regular Briefing
6 of 39 Imported Cases Yesterday from Iraq

Jung Eun-kyung, Head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Korean workers who tested positive for COVID-19 after returning from working at a construction site in Iraq are presumed by health authorities to have been exposed to the infection source locally. Although they recently returned on the same flight, the possibility of infection occurring on the plane is considered low.

Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said at a briefing on the 17th, "The probability of infection occurring on the plane is not high, and it is judged that most were infected while living locally before entering the country."

As of midnight that day, there were 39 confirmed cases imported from overseas, with 6 of them arriving from Iraq. Previously, about 100 personnel related to a domestic construction company who worked at the construction site in Iraq recently entered the country via Qatar, and a significant number of them tested positive. The government has decided to arrange flights to bring back Korean nationals remaining in Iraq who wish to return.

Head Jung said, "When transporting additional Iraqi workers to Korea, special quarantine procedures will be applied as before, and the government rapid response team is being organized to ensure safety during transport. Plans are being coordinated among ministries."

Overseas Koreans and expatriates from the Milan area in Italy returned to Korea in April via a charter flight, arriving at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Even if they enter the country, the possibility of spreading COVID-19 to the local community is expected to be very low. If transported by special flights, strict measures such as screening for symptoms locally, separating seats accordingly, and requiring masks while seated apart on the plane will be implemented. After arrival, they will be quarantined in temporary facilities and undergo diagnostic testing, applying all possible measures to minimize the risk of infection, according to health authorities.

Head Jung explained, "There have been about three cases of secondary community infections caused by overseas arrivals, but most occurred when picking up confirmed cases at the airport or within households, and currently, there is no case of expanded risk."

Although small in scale, cluster infections continue steadily in the domestic community. Related to an office in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, two additional visitors tested positive, raising the cumulative number to 13. In the metropolitan area sales group in Gyeonggi, one additional contact related to a church tested positive, bringing the total to 42. At the Siheung Seoul National University Hyoyang Nursing Hospital in Gyeonggi, a caregiver of an inpatient tested positive, increasing the total to 4. The number of cases related to Hanwha Life in Seoul rose by 3 to 8 compared to the previous day. Regarding the sales meeting in Gwangju, 3 more cases were added, making the cumulative confirmed cases 147.

As of midnight that day, there were 39 imported cases by country: Russia had the highest with 20, followed by the United States with 8, and Iraq with 6. The Philippines had 3, and Uzbekistan had 2. On the Russian ship Regulus, a total of 17 tested positive, while 3 and 2 cases were confirmed on the Kronstarsky and Mizrovosva ships, respectively.

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