35 Additional COVID-19 Cases Among Iraqi Construction Workers... Total 71 Confirmed

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] Among workers who returned from working at a construction site in Iraq, 35 more tested positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The Central Disease Control Headquarters (CDCH) announced on the 25th at 10 a.m. that out of 293 workers who returned from Iraq, a total of 71 have been confirmed positive.

Previously, 36 workers tested positive on the day of their return, the 24th.

211 tested negative, and the remaining 11 are undergoing retesting. The CDCH stated that if test results are unclear or additional testing is needed, retesting will be conducted.

At the regular briefing that day, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the CDCH, said, "Even if the test results come out negative, considering the incubation period of COVID-19 is 14 days, we cannot rule out the possibility of additional positive cases," indicating that the number of confirmed cases may increase.

Confirmed workers are transferred for treatment to medical institutions including the National Medical Center or to residential treatment centers (Employment and Labor Training Institute, Small and Medium Business Training Institute) operated by the Central Accident Response Headquarters, depending on the severity of their condition.

Those who tested negative will also be quarantined in temporary living facilities for two weeks until August 7.

Meanwhile, health authorities have decided to strengthen quarantine management for countries with severe COVID-19 outbreaks.

Deputy Director Kwon said, "To strengthen management of imported cases, diagnostic testing for entrants from countries subject to enhanced quarantine will be expanded from once to twice." The expanded testing will begin at midnight on the 27th.

The policy to expand testing will also apply to existing entrants whose quarantine release dates are approaching.

Accordingly, entrants from countries subject to enhanced quarantine previously underwent one COVID-19 test within three days of entry, but going forward, they will be tested twice: once within three days after entry and once again on the 13th day of quarantine in temporary living facilities.

The government currently requires entrants departing from countries subject to enhanced quarantine to present a negative test certificate issued within 48 hours before departure. Entrants will be tested again at domestic institutions within three days.

The countries in question are Bangladesh, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, and Uzbekistan.

The CDCH stated, "We will conduct regular risk assessments considering the trends of cases by country and the number of imported cases domestically, and through this, take timely quarantine and isolation measures necessary to block imported cases."

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