Pyeongtaek Holds Emergency Meeting with U.S. Military Base Commander over COVID-19

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Seo Dong-young] Pyeongtaek City held an emergency meeting on the 4th with base commander Michael Tremblay at Camp Humphreys (K-6), a U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, in response to the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases among U.S. military personnel.

The city explained that it requested the emergency meeting to establish countermeasures as confirmed cases related to U.S. military personnel have occurred at two bases: Camp Humphreys (K-6) and Pyeongtaek-Osan Air Base (K-55).

At the meeting, the city and the U.S. military decided to share all information necessary for epidemiological investigations, including confirmed cases and contacts among U.S. military personnel, to actively prevent the spread of COVID-19. They also agreed to establish a hotline and, if necessary, dispatch Pyeongtaek Health Center staff to the U.S. military bases.

Regarding the city's request for information about foreign national workers residing outside the base, it was decided to make a determination after reviewing personal information protection issues and other matters. Should providing the list prove difficult, they agreed to establish a separate contact system. Plans are also in place to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for sharing infectious disease management operations.

A U.S. military official stated, "Camp Humphreys is conducting testing at six screening clinics for symptomatic individuals," and explained the quarantine status, saying "confirmed cases with mild symptoms are being treated at community treatment facilities, and severe cases at negative pressure isolation treatment facilities. The movements of confirmed cases are immediately disinfected."

The city plans to send COVID-19 guidance text messages to all personnel engaged in U.S. military-related work to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within the U.S. military. The city intends to conduct full-scale testing on contract workers of U.S. nationality in the future. Methods and costs will be discussed.

Mayor Jung Jang-seon stated, "As the overseas situation has become serious, thorough preparation is necessary for inflow from visitors, and testing of the U.S. Forces Korea is also necessary. We will maintain a cooperative system with the U.S. military and do our best to ensure no additional cases occur."

Meanwhile, Mayor Jung Jang-seon strongly urged participation in two weeks of social distancing through the city's blog and SNS on the 5th. The mayor explained, "Since April, 13 additional cases have been added, and with a continued increase in overseas inflow and rising confirmed cases around the U.S. military base, swift epidemiological investigations and countermeasures are urgently needed." He added, "For the safety of your beloved families and neighbors, I earnestly urge you to actively participate in strong social distancing practices for the next two weeks, despite the hardship."