Another COVID-19 Case Confirmed Within the Ministry of National Defense Premises

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A confirmed case of COVID-19 has occurred within the Ministry of National Defense premises in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. This comes two months after a daycare teacher and some children were confirmed positive at the end of June.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 26th, Civilian employee A, who works at the Cyber Operations Command, a direct unit under the Ministry of National Defense, was classified as a confirmed COVID-19 case on this day.

A did not come to work starting from June 24th when their family members were classified as subjects for COVID-19 testing, and after the spouse was confirmed positive the day before, A underwent additional testing and was confirmed positive. The specific infection route has not yet been identified.

The military authorities are urgently identifying personnel who had contact with A within the premises before June 24th and are conducting quarantine measures. The Cyber Operations Command is located in the Ministry of National Defense annex building.

The Cyber Operations Command was also the unit where, in May, a non-commissioned officer violated Ministry of National Defense guidelines by visiting Itaewon clubs and contracted COVID-19, which subsequently led to multiple so-called 'Itaewon-origin military confirmed cases,' causing controversy.

Meanwhile, on the same day, Army active reservist B, who works at the Yangpyeong 2-dong Community Center building in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, was also confirmed positive for COVID-19. Private First Class B is presumed to have been infected on the 21st of this month while dining with a confirmed case at a restaurant in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

The military and health authorities are conducting diagnostic tests on three unit members who had contact with Private B and are carrying out epidemiological investigations to determine the exact movement paths. The military plans to review whether Private B violated the 'wait at lodging after work' guideline once fully recovered.

The unit to which Private B belongs had issued guidelines for officers and active reservists to wait at their lodging after work unless unavoidable, to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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