Nonsan Training Center Emergency... Over 90 Confirmed Cases

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Cluster infections continue at the Nonsan Army Training Center, where 7 additional COVID-19 cases have been confirmed.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, as of 10 a.m. on the 13th, there are 7 additional confirmed cases among soldiers at the Nonsan Training Center. These 7 individuals tested positive after developing symptoms during quarantine following the occurrence of confirmed cases within the unit. This brings the total number of confirmed cases due to cluster infections at the Nonsan Training Center from 86 the previous day to 93.

At the Nonsan Army Training Center in Chungnam, the largest recruit training institution in the country, 36 cases were initially reported, including squad members like Mr. A, and 1 case of Mr. B, who was in solitary quarantine after being notified that a family member tested positive. Within a week, the number of confirmed cases has nearly tripled to a total of 37.

All confirmed COVID-19 cases identified so far within the training center are trainees (including new recruits). No confirmed cases have been reported among training center officers or permanent soldiers. The training center explained that confirmed COVID-19 patients are currently being managed at government-designated medical facilities, while close contacts are being managed separately at government-designated support facilities and military quarantine facilities.

The training center also stated that quarantined individuals due to this cluster infection have been provided with their personal mobile phones, which were collected upon enlistment, to monitor their health status and any difficulties. Additionally, during the thrice-daily meal deliveries, one-on-one questioning is conducted to provide further support. Earlier, the training center conducted COVID-19 diagnostic tests on approximately 4,500 personnel, including those in the regiment to which the first confirmed case Mr. A belonged and all units overlapping with his movement paths.

The training center said, "There are no restrictions or disadvantages for trainees due to COVID-19 quarantine," but added, "However, some unit assignments may be delayed by 1 to 2 weeks due to quarantine measures."

Additionally, one soldier at an Air Force unit in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, tested positive during a test conducted before returning to the unit for a second dose of the vaccine. One officer at an Army unit in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province, was classified as a contact of a confirmed case within the unit and tested positive after developing symptoms during solitary quarantine.

As a result, the number of COVID-19 patients currently receiving treatment in the military has increased to 127. The cumulative number of confirmed cases in the military is 1,150, with 1,023 recovered. According to health authorities’ standards for preventing COVID-19 spread in military units, 2,763 individuals are in quarantine, and 15,555 are in preventive quarantine based on military standards.

The number of military personnel under 30 who have received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine is 321,042, including 25,610 as of the previous day. This represents 81.1% compared to approximately 395,000 who received the first dose.

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