Over 30 COVID-19 Cases Confirmed at Pocheon Military Base

33 Soldiers and 3 Officers with Unknown Infection Routes

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) has increased to over 30 at an Army unit located in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do.

According to the military on the 5th, as of 7 a.m. that day, the total number of confirmed cases related to the Army unit in Naechon-myeon, Pocheon, rose to 36. These include 33 soldiers and 3 officers.

The military authorities, after three confirmed cases were reported at the unit the previous day at 3 a.m., controlled troop movements and began mass testing of about 230 unit members, including officers. This mass testing revealed a cluster of infections. The military is tracing the infection routes of the confirmed cases but has not yet identified the exact cause.

This cluster infection occurred despite most soldiers' leaves and outings being restricted under 'Social Distancing Level 2,' and the unclear infection route has raised concerns.

Currently, all military units have temporarily suspended leave departures until the 11th of this month, except for exceptional cases such as emergency leave. Outings are also only allowed under the commander's discretion and limited to cases where no infection cases have occurred in the unit's area for one week. Overnight stays have been suspended since February.

A military official stated, "We are strictly controlling troop movements in the unit where confirmed cases have appeared," adding, "Since confirmed cases were found in the mass testing of all unit members, we believe that if treatment and management are properly handled, further spread will not occur."

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