297 Iraqi Residents Return Home... "Thorough Measures to Prevent Community Infection"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] A total of 293 workers who were dispatched to a construction site in Iraq returned to Korea on the 24th to avoid the risk of infection from the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Yoon Tae-ho, head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' quarantine team, stated at a regular briefing held at the Government Sejong Complex on the same day, "At around 17:30 local time on July 23, 293 of our construction workers boarded two aerial refueling aircraft (KC-330) and departed from Baghdad. They arrived at Incheon Airport at around 10:00 today."

The quarantine authorities are making thorough efforts to prevent the overseas inflow of COVID-19. Before departure, our quarantine officers conducted a primary health check, and upon arrival, the workers are undergoing entry quarantine at a separate gate at Incheon Airport.

Symptomatic individuals will receive COVID-19 diagnostic tests first at a screening clinic inside Incheon Airport after completing quarantine. As for asymptomatic individuals, they will be immediately transferred from the airport to temporary living facilities, such as the Construction Management Training Center and the Social Service Training Center, where all will undergo diagnostic testing.

Those who test positive will be transferred to medical institutions such as the National Medical Center or to residential treatment centers for treatment, while those who test negative will be quarantined for 14 days at the temporary living facilities.

Yoon said, "While the overseas Koreans are quarantined at the temporary living facilities, the government joint support team will operate to monitor their health and also make every effort to manage quarantine to block community transmission."

He added, "Since there have been no cases of community spread from the temporary living facilities operated by the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and local governments through thorough quarantine management, we ask for the broad understanding and cooperation of local residents near the facilities."

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