Spread of Omicron strains in Pyeongtaek, Korea, "rapid increase" in infected people in U.S. military bases

Omicron strain has spread in Pyeongtaek, Korea, and the number of infected people in US military bases has been increasing rapidly.

On the 19th, Korean media "YTN" found that a considerable number of newly infected people were concentrated in Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi-do, and most of them were infected with Omicron strains.

It seems that the infection is spreading mainly to USFK soldiers who had returned to their home countries during the year-end and New Year holidays.

Of the 357 newly infected people confirmed in Pyeongtaek on 18th, 124 belongs to the USFK.

More than 2,700 infected persons were confirmed within the U.S. Forces Korea alone, and 29 Korean soldiers (trainees) educated at the Pyeongtaek U.S. military base were also diagnosed as positive.

Quarantine officials said that soldiers who had returned to their home countries during the Christmas holidays last year and the year-end and New Year holidays returned to South Korea and held parties at the base. It estimates that the number has increased sharply due to rising in person connection.

As a result of Pyeongtaek City examining about 150 specimens of the most recently infected persons excluding patients related to the USFK, 90% of them were found to have Omicron strains.