US military lifts Seoul travel ban as South Korea continues to wrestle with COVID-19

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — The command overseeing U.S. troops in South Korea has lifted its pandemic ban on nonessential journey to Seoul after retaining the metropolis off-boundaries additional than three months.

U.S. Forces Korea did away with the ban on Thursday, in accordance to a news release. The command is accountable for about 28,500 provider customers, alongside with civilian staff, contractors and their people. &#13

USFK reminded its population to adhere to all South Korean procedures and polices aimed at stopping the distribute of COVID-19. “USFK will proceed to monitor and assess the COVID atmosphere and will make further adjustments to protect the force and our mission,” the launch reported.&#13

In the meantime, South Korea continued to wrestle with a surge in new cases. It reported a pandemic one particular-day substantial of 470 deaths on Wednesday, and 395,598 new bacterial infections, in accordance to the Korea Sickness Management and Avoidance Agency’s update on Thursday.&#13

South Korea arrived at a pandemic peak of 621,205 scenarios on March 17, in accordance to the KDCA.&#13

Seoul regularly established the speed for COVID-19 in South Korea till the omicron wave commenced to create in late 2021. Gyeonggi province, the most populous province and the dwelling of Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Foundation, commenced to present the most new bacterial infections.&#13

Gyeonggi reported 107,472 new situations Wednesday Seoul accounted for 77,770, in accordance to KDCA’s update.&#13

USFK counted 485 new circumstances in a weeklong time period ending Monday. The command counted 302 new scenarios the prior week.&#13

USFK introduced no other pandemic plan changes Thursday. Indoor dining at dining places and visits to motion picture theaters are authorized, but armed forces personnel are still banned from off-write-up bars, golf equipment, saunas, spas and karaoke organizations.&#13

Leisurely visits to the funds city had been banned on Jan. 8 right after USFK elevated its overall health protection condition from Bravo to Bravo-additionally. &#13

The military’s COVID-19 bacterial infections strike a pandemic peak soon after the holiday break season with 1,599 conditions involving Jan. 4 and 11. USFK then heightened its social distancing steps “due to the connected possibility of opportunity exposure to virus.”&#13

USFK peaceful its COVID-19 mitigation steps this thirty day period as the South Korean federal government loosened restrictions all over the place. On Tuesday, a working day following South Korea dropped its required quarantine policy for new arrivals, the command announced that fully vaccinated staff were being no lengthier expected to isolate following arriving in South Korea.