USFK imposes new precautionary measures against coronavirus

By Jung Da-min

The United States Forces Korea (USFK) announced Wednesday that it had imposed new preventive measures against the spread of 2019-nCoV (COVID-19) as dozens of new patients were confirmed in Daegu.

It said service members in South Korea who visited a branch of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus in Daegu, where the majority of the Daegu patients are believed to have contracted the virus, over the past 10 days will undergo a mandatory self-quarantine, while their family members, civilians and contractors who have come in contact with them are also advised to quarantine themselves until the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) completes contract tracing procedures to ascertain who may have been exposed to COVID-19.

The church in Daegu's Nam-gu, has been identified as the location of a “super-spreading event” as more than 40 newly confirmed patients had attended services there, and the number is expected to increase.

“All service members' non-essential travel to and from Daegu will be prohibited, and off-installation travel minimized; I highly request all family members, civilians and contractors do likewise regarding their travel as well,” read a statement by USFK Commander Gen. Robert Abrams.

The U.S. Army Garrison Daegu, which includes Camp Walker and Camp Henry, said the nearby Shincheonji Church was off-limits until further notice for the U.S. service members, recommending them to avoid public places and transportation in the city until the tracing procedures are complete.

“All USAG-Daegu and Area IV schools, child development centers, and child and youth services activities will be closed Thursday, and we will make a decision regarding a Friday closure tomorrow,” the statement said. “All visitors who are not performing mission essential or official business will be denied access to USAG-Daegu and Area IV military installations for the next 24 hours, and this directive will be reassessed every 24 hours.”