This Time, Mass Infection at Paju Army Base

Special Forces soldiers supporting COVID-19 epidemiological investigations are entering data at Yongsan-gu Public Health Center in Seoul on the afternoon of the 14th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]Fourteen people have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) at an Army unit in Paju, Gyeonggi Province.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 15th, two soldiers who returned from leave on the 30th of last month at the Paju Army unit showed symptoms during the preventive observation period and tested positive for COVID-19. During the full-scale testing of the same unit's personnel, one officer and eleven soldiers were additionally confirmed positive, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in this unit to 14 so far. Since full testing of about 400 personnel is still ongoing, more confirmed cases may emerge.

At an Army unit in Incheon, one soldier tested positive during a test conducted before release from quarantine following an outbreak within the unit, and at an Army unit in Cheorwon, one soldier tested positive after showing symptoms following quarantine release.

A soldier at the Hwacheon Army unit tested positive before returning from leave, and one Army officer in Hwacheon tested positive while in self-quarantine after a family member was confirmed positive. In total, 18 additional cases were confirmed across the military on this day.

As a result, the total cumulative number of confirmed cases in the military has risen to 469. Among them, 383 have recovered, and 86 are receiving treatment. According to health authorities, 694 people are in isolation, and 4,761 personnel are quarantined preventively according to the military's own standards.

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