Ministry of National Defense Direct Unit Reports 4 Additional COVID-19 Cases... Total 11 Cases

As social distancing was adjusted to Level 1, military personnel's leave, which had been restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, was fully reinstated on the 12th. At Seoul Station, a soldier is waiting in the lounge to use the TMO service. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]Four additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been reported at the Armed Forces Welfare Group, a direct unit of the Ministry of National Defense located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 12th, the additional confirmed cases include two officers and two civilian workers belonging to the Welfare Group. This brings the total number of confirmed cases at the Welfare Group to 11 since the first case was reported on the 10th.

The Ministry of National Defense explained that about 300 personnel and their families working within the Yongsan-gu compound, where the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff headquarters are located, have all tested negative so far following additional testing. The Welfare Group is housed in a separate building outside the Yongsan-gu compound where the Ministry of National Defense headquarters is located.

However, since some employees living in military housing with confirmed cases have been identified, the military authorities installed a temporary drive-through testing site within the compound the previous day and conducted additional testing considering the movement paths of the confirmed cases.

Although no confirmed cases have yet emerged within the compound, the ongoing confirmed cases at the Welfare Group make it difficult to be complacent. The Ministry of National Defense plans to conduct epidemiological investigations and additional testing related to the new confirmed cases at the Welfare Group.

As of today, the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the military has risen to 178, with 20 currently receiving treatment. The rest have all fully recovered.

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