S. Korea reports 63 new COVID-19 cases on Wed. as virus breaks out in army unit
- 4 years ago
국내 코로나19 신규확진 5일만에 다시 60명대...포천 육군부대 '무더기 감염'
South Korea's new COVID-19 cases rebounded to more than 60 today due to a rise in locally transmitted infections and imported cases with the greater Seoul seeing a sharp increase in virus cases tied to a nursing home and a front-line military unit.
The country plans to bring home nearly 300 Korean nationals from the virus-hit Iraq.
Our Kim Jae-hee has the latest.
South Korea reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
New cases were back into the 60s for the first time in five days due to cluster infections in the capital and a rise in imported cases.
Of the new cases, 29 were locally transmitted cases, the highest in two weeks.
That brings the total cases in the nation to 13-thousand-879.
There was one additional death, raising the death toll to 2-hundred-97.
Concerns are rising over an outbreak at a front-line unit in Pocheon, near the inter-Korean border.
"13 South Korean soldiers from the unit in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do Province have tested positive for COVID-19. Epidemiologists are currently investigating the source and route of transmission."
According to the Defense Ministry, two soldiers from the unit were confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday.
All 220 members of the unit went through testing, and 11 more tested positive.
The number is likely to rise as more test results come in.
Meanwhile, cluster infections from churches have waned, and the government will lift the ban on small church gatherings from 6PM Friday.
"With most churches strictly following the virus prevention rules, there have been few infections linked to small church gatherings recently. Accordingly, the government would like to lift the strengthened measures on churches from Friday."
But he added regional governments may issue their own administrative orders, if necessary.
The government will also use chartered flights to bring back almost three hundred Korean nationals from Iraq.
"A total of 297 workers in Iraq have decided to return to South Korea. Two military aircraft will leave Baghdad on Thursday afternoon and arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday morning."
All passengers on the flight will be tested for COVID-19, and will be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival, even if their tests turn out negative.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.
South Korea's new COVID-19 cases rebounded to more than 60 today due to a rise in locally transmitted infections and imported cases with the greater Seoul seeing a sharp increase in virus cases tied to a nursing home and a front-line military unit.
The country plans to bring home nearly 300 Korean nationals from the virus-hit Iraq.
Our Kim Jae-hee has the latest.
South Korea reported 63 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
New cases were back into the 60s for the first time in five days due to cluster infections in the capital and a rise in imported cases.
Of the new cases, 29 were locally transmitted cases, the highest in two weeks.
That brings the total cases in the nation to 13-thousand-879.
There was one additional death, raising the death toll to 2-hundred-97.
Concerns are rising over an outbreak at a front-line unit in Pocheon, near the inter-Korean border.
"13 South Korean soldiers from the unit in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do Province have tested positive for COVID-19. Epidemiologists are currently investigating the source and route of transmission."
According to the Defense Ministry, two soldiers from the unit were confirmed to have the virus on Tuesday.
All 220 members of the unit went through testing, and 11 more tested positive.
The number is likely to rise as more test results come in.
Meanwhile, cluster infections from churches have waned, and the government will lift the ban on small church gatherings from 6PM Friday.
"With most churches strictly following the virus prevention rules, there have been few infections linked to small church gatherings recently. Accordingly, the government would like to lift the strengthened measures on churches from Friday."
But he added regional governments may issue their own administrative orders, if necessary.
The government will also use chartered flights to bring back almost three hundred Korean nationals from Iraq.
"A total of 297 workers in Iraq have decided to return to South Korea. Two military aircraft will leave Baghdad on Thursday afternoon and arrive at Incheon International Airport on Friday morning."
All passengers on the flight will be tested for COVID-19, and will be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival, even if their tests turn out negative.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News.