[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] About 120 People Quarantined After Contact with COVID-19 Confirmed Case

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The Ministry of National Defense announced that it is currently quarantining 120 people who recently came into contact with confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to government officials on the 21st, Air Force Lieutenant A, who was dispatched to the Air Force Meteorological Unit at Gyeryongdae in Gyeryong City, Chungnam Province, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 early this morning. The Air Force immediately transferred Lieutenant A to the Armed Forces Capital Hospital.

Lieutenant A was assigned as a language soldier exam question setter and was dispatched from Daegu to the Air Force Meteorological Unit at Gyeryongdae on the 17th. There were nine question setters in total, who lived together and effectively stayed in quarantine while preparing the exam questions. The question setters reportedly used several restaurants in the nearby Gyeryong downtown area multiple times. Lieutenant A, who showed high fever symptoms on the 19th, was tested for COVID-19 at a public health center the next day and was confirmed positive early this morning. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plans to conduct an epidemiological investigation to trace Lieutenant A’s movements.

An Air Force official also stated, "Since the officer dispatched to the Gyeryongdae Meteorological Unit was confirmed positive, about 30 soldiers who had contact with him were quarantined," adding, "The officer belongs to the Daegu Air Force Logistics Command, so office workers from the same command were quarantined, and about 50 soldiers who lived with the working soldiers were also quarantined." The Air Force Meteorological Unit is located in a separate building from the Gyeryongdae building, where the Army, Navy, and Air Force Headquarters are located, and it is known that the confirmed officer did not enter the main Gyeryongdae building.

The Army is also on high alert. One confirmed COVID-19 case has been reported at an Army airborne unit located in Jeungpyeong, Chungbuk Province. This is the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Chungbuk.

According to the Jeungpyeong County Public Health Center on the same day, Mr. A from this unit was confirmed positive for COVID-19 and was transferred to the Armed Forces Capital Integrated Hospital at 4 a.m. today. It is reported that Mr. A went on leave to Daegu, met his girlfriend who attends the Shincheonji Church, and then returned. Chungbuk Province and Jeungpyeong County are holding related countermeasure meetings. It is estimated that five people had close contact with Mr. A.

The Air Force Academy, where one of the parents who attended the entrance ceremony was confirmed positive, quarantined the entire cadet dormitory area and conducted disinfection work on public facilities. Six cadets who had direct or indirect contact with the confirmed family member were also quarantined.

The Navy is conducting a full epidemiological investigation including temperature checks and questionnaire completion for all personnel at the Jeju Naval Air Squadron, where a confirmed case was reported, together with the Jeju Province epidemiological investigation team and rapid response team. About 30 personnel who had contact with the confirmed case and unit members were quarantined, and disinfection was carried out throughout the unit.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "We are conducting a full survey to identify the number of soldiers who went on leave to Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas," adding, "As of 4 p.m. yesterday, about 340 soldiers have been quarantined as a preventive measure."