[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] COVID Quarantine Soldiers Increase from 800 to 960... Why

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The number of soldiers quarantined to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) has increased. While about 800 soldiers were quarantined on the 3rd, the number rose to about 960 as of the 5th.

On this day, the Ministry of National Defense announced that about 960 soldiers who had visited China, Hong Kong, or Macau, as well as soldiers who have family members who visited those countries, are being managed through self-quarantine or unit quarantine as a preventive measure.

About 140 soldiers who visited the relevant regions themselves are quarantined. The number is decreasing as some soldiers have been released from quarantine after the incubation period. The number of soldiers quarantined due to contact with third parties such as family members who visited the relevant regions has increased to about 820. Among the quarantined soldiers, about 280 are officers and about 680 are enlisted soldiers. There are about 740 in the Army, about 70 each in the Navy and Air Force, and about 60 in the Ministry of National Defense direct units. About 330 soldiers are under self-quarantine, and about 630 are under unit quarantine.

The military has confirmed that no additional soldiers have shown suspected symptoms of the novel coronavirus as of the morning of this day. A sergeant in the Army who arrived from China the previous day showed fever symptoms, but the test result for the novel coronavirus infection at the military hospital was negative. Earlier, a private in the Army who had contact with the 12th confirmed domestic case of the novel coronavirus at a resort in Gangneung also tested negative. Seven soldiers who shared the barracks with the private also tested negative.

A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "The reason for the increase in the number of quarantined personnel is that soldiers returning from leave continue to be confirmed to have had contact with family or acquaintances who visited China and other countries."