The Source of COVID-19 Infection in the 8th Division is Presumed to be a Career Education Instructor

On the 8th, when the military leave that had been restricted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was resumed normally, soldiers departing on leave were waiting for the train at Seoul Station. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The source of the COVID-19 'cluster infection' at the 8th Division in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, is presumed to be two career education instructors.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 23rd, career education instructor A, who visited the subordinate unit of the 8th Division where the cluster infection occurred on the 16th of this month, tested positive for COVID-19 on the 22nd. A's family and another instructor who visited the unit with A also tested positive.

During the investigation by health authorities after A's positive diagnosis, it was reported that A had mild COVID-19-related symptoms at the time of visiting the unit. A had indicated no symptoms on the health questionnaire at the time of the visit, and there were no notable signs such as fever.

A did not wear a mask properly during the lecture, while all soldiers wore masks. One instructor accompanying A was identified to have stayed with A inside the unit.

Among approximately 220 personnel in the unit, 14 tested positive for COVID-19. Of the 14 confirmed cases, 12 were known to have received counseling from A. The first confirmed case showed fever symptoms on the 19th of this month, after A's visit.

A conducted career counseling not only at the subordinate unit of the 8th Division where the cluster infection occurred but also at four nearby units over several days; no confirmed cases have emerged from these units yet.

The military conducted COVID-19 tests on about 400 people who had contact with A in these four units. So far, no positive cases have been identified among the tested personnel.

Immediately after the first confirmed case in the unit, the military restricted movement of all stationed personnel including officers and quarantined the entire unit. As of 10 a.m. on the day, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the military is 72 (58 recovered). According to health authorities, 234 are quarantined within the military, and 1,480 are under preventive quarantine according to military standards.

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