S. KOREAN MILITARY SEES LARGEST OUTBREAK

[Anchor Lead]

Coronavirus cases are also surging in the military as well. Seventy service members at an army unit in Yeoncheon have tested positive, the largest outbreak in the military thus far. The Defense Ministry convened an emergency meeting last night.

[Pkg]

One more service member tested positive at the boot camp of the Fifth Infantry Division in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. On November 25, 69 out of more than 800 recruits and instructors who were training together tested positive. The military and health authorities investigated some 1,100 servicemen and recruits at the unit. One more case was confirmed in the early hours of November 26. The total case count at the division now reaches 70. It's the largest outbreak in the military so far. The first case was a recruit who entered the camp on November 10. He initially tested negative, but later developed a fever, and was confirmed to have COVID-19 in the early hours of November 25. Movement restrictions have been in place for some one thousand service members and recruits in the division since the first case was confirmed. The military and health authorities are investigating the source of infections. The recruits are currently in isolation. The Defense Ministry convened an emergency meeting on the evening of November 25. The MND is adjusting guidelines regarding the military service and division management. To stop the spread, senior officers nationwide are now prohibited from leaving their units, while service members are banned from taking leaves. On November 23 alone, more than 30 servicemen from an army unit in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do Province, tested positive for COVID-19 in just one day.
The latest outbreak in Yeoncheon will likely prompt the military to come up with stronger measures to prevent infections.