Three Overseas Deployment Officers Confirmed Positive for COVID-19

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Three officers deployed overseas have tested positive for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). This is the first time that members of the Korean military deployed abroad have been confirmed to have COVID-19.

On the 3rd, the Ministry of National Defense announced that three officers tested positive for COVID-19: two Army officers (one Major, one Captain) assigned to the Western Brigade of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), and one Navy Major (pending promotion) individually deployed to the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) in Bahrain.

The officers deployed in Lebanon tested positive during additional testing after a local restaurant employee within the unit was confirmed positive the previous day. They are currently isolated and receiving treatment in separate facilities according to UN mission quarantine guidelines. Including these individuals, there are a total of five Korean soldiers in the Western Brigade, with the other three testing negative.

Regarding the Navy Major deployed to the Combined Maritime Forces, he tested positive during testing related to a confirmed foreign military case within the unit on the 30th of last month. Four other Korean personnel individually deployed at the same station as the Combined Maritime Forces tested negative.

A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "The condition of the three confirmed cases is mild, and the Ministry is thoroughly implementing preventive and quarantine measures for personnel deployed overseas."

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