Korean Worker at Osan US Military Base Tests Positive for COVID-19

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]A Korean national contract worker employed at the Osan US military base tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the 5th.

According to the United States Forces Korea (USFK) command, the confirmed case, identified as Mr. A, was last recorded entering and exiting Osan Air Base on the 3rd. The US military has identified and quarantined contacts within the base, and Mr. A was immediately transferred to Anseong Hospital after confirmation of the infection.

It is presumed that Mr. A was exposed to the COVID-19 virus at the workplace of his spouse, who works elsewhere. The USFK did not disclose the spouse’s workplace but clarified that it is unrelated to any US military base, including Osan.

With this case, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to USFK has risen to 176. Notably, this is the first confirmed case within a US military base in about five months since April 14.

Until recently, all confirmed cases related to USFK involved personnel who had entered from the United States. Unlike soldiers arriving from overseas who are tested immediately upon arrival and mandatorily quarantined for two weeks, the emergence of a confirmed case inside the base raises the possibility of further transmission. Accordingly, USFK has traced the movements of the confirmed case and conducted disinfection of related facilities.

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