This Time, Soldier Confirmed Positive at Paju Military Base

As social distancing was adjusted to Level 1, military personnel's leave, which had been restricted to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, was fully implemented on the 12th. Military personnel are seen moving at Seoul Station. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]A new confirmed case of COVID-19 has been reported among officers at a military unit in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, followed by an additional confirmed case among soldiers.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 19th, soldier A, an additional confirmed case at the Paju unit, was classified as a contact of officer B, who was the first confirmed case in the same unit on the 17th, and tested positive after undergoing testing.

Since soldiers live together in barracks, there is a possibility of more confirmed cases emerging. Officer B, the first confirmed case, developed symptoms during recent leave and tested positive. It was reported that B entered the unit during leave, raising concerns again about a 'cluster infection within the military.'

The military and health authorities are currently conducting tests on all unit members. The number of personnel is known to be around 500.

Meanwhile, at the Air Force 20th Fighter Wing in Seosan, Chungnam, where multiple confirmed cases have already been reported, one more soldier tested positive on this day, increasing the cumulative confirmed cases within the unit to 12. As of 10 a.m. on this day, the total cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases in the military increased by 2 to 206, with 42 of them currently receiving treatment.

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