[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] A cluster of COVID-19 infections has occurred among trainees at the Pyeongtaek KATUSA (Korean Augmentation To the United States Army) training unit. The KATUSA training unit is where the US Forces Korea conducts training, and this appears to be due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases among USFK personnel.
According to the military on the 19th, 29 trainees at the Army Korean Support Group KATUSA training unit within the Pyeongtaek US military base tested positive for COVID-19. They had completed basic military training at the Nonsan Army Training Center and were receiving basic education just before being assigned to the US Forces Korea. KATUSA soldiers serve under the US Forces Korea but hold Korean military status. The KATUSA training unit itself is located inside the Pyeongtaek US military base, and the training is conducted by US military instructors.
According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, from the 4th to the 10th, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among US Forces Korea personnel reached 1,599. As of the 12th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases related to USFK was 4,626, showing a high infection rate of about 16.5% based on the total force of approximately 28,000 personnel.
The Ministry of National Defense also announced that 9 trainees from the Air Force Education Command tested positive as new cases on the same day. The military and health authorities are conducting isolation and epidemiological investigations, considering the possibility of a cluster infection. The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the military increased by 70 from the previous day to 3,727. Among them, 1,902 cases, or 51.3%, are breakthrough infections.
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