COVID-19 Cases Among Korean and US Soldiers Continue to Rise Steadily

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) among South Korean and U.S. military personnel continues to rise.

On the 20th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that five new COVID-19 cases were confirmed. The cases were reported from five units: a direct unit under the Ministry of National Defense in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, and Army units in Seoul, Incheon, Yangju, and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, with one case each. All five cases were identified as 'breakthrough infections' occurring more than two weeks after vaccination, bringing the total number of similar cases within the military to 39. This raises the cumulative number of confirmed cases in the military to 1,580.

The number of COVID-19 cases among U.S. Forces Korea personnel is also increasing. On the 16th and 17th, 12 additional cases were confirmed. Of these 12, nine are personnel from Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province (six service members) and U.S. military family members (three). The other two cases include one service member stationed at the Daegu base and one service member temporarily dispatched to Korea.

The confirmed cases were transferred to isolation treatment facilities within the Pyeongtaek and Osan U.S. military bases. U.S. Forces Korea is conducting epidemiological investigations and quarantine measures in cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. This brings the cumulative number of confirmed cases among U.S. Forces Korea to 1,253.

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