Commander of U.S. Forces Korea Army Gen. Robert Abrams outlined his “combat” approach to halting the spread of COVID-19 to just nine individuals on bases housing more than 23,000 troops in South Korea, which has more than 7,000 infections.
“The proximity of the virus to our installations was literally at our doorsteps,” Abrams told Pentagon journalists in a Friday virtual press conference from South Korea.
Abrams said there is one service member and two dependents among the nine cases and that he only received FDA-approved tests March 3 though he requested a resupply of medical equipment and supplies on Feb. 20.
“By federal law, for U.S. citizens, we have to use an FDA-approved test. And there wasn’t one,” he said.
When he did receive the kits, tests were operational by March 7 and so far, 145 USFK-affiliated personnel have been tested.
Nonetheless, early preventive measures created a virtual lockdown and lifestyle changes began abruptly.
“If you want to kill this virus, it requires a fundamental change in lifestyle,” he said. “We are all living this fundamental change; there are no exceptions for rank or position.”
Abrams said one afternoon two weeks ago he went home to wait out symptoms when he didn’t feel well, but returned to work the following day when he felt better.
The commander said his response began on Jan. 23 but ramped up on Feb. 20, when 57 cases were reported in the city of Daegu, where many off-base personnel live, including all nine infected base personnel.
At its peak, Abrams said that 392 personnel were self-quarantined and currently 55 individuals are taking the preventive measure.
“Out of a population of 58,000 people that touches U.S. Forces Korea daily, that’s a pretty low number: less than one-one hundredth of a percent of positive cases,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said despite the cancellation of regional exercises, readiness has not decreased as North Korea continued missile tests in recent weeks.
The commander said the reclusive nature of North Korea has made it difficult to assess how many cases its military might be suffering from, but added the North Korean Armed Forces were on lockdown for 30 days and flew no training missions for 24 days.
Abrams described the COVID-19 “impenetrable barriers” at his bases to include screenings at checkpoints, temperature checks, and prohibiting gatherings of more than 20 people as well as making dine-in restaurants, movie theaters, and bars off-limits.
For service members, Abrams said there are six negative pressure rooms at base hospitals and “contact tracing” that includes posting online the locations where infected individuals traveled in the 24 hours before they began to show symptoms.
The general reported that it was not feasible to conduct social spacing in all areas, especially the Joint Operations Center.
Instead, the base screens individuals before they enter, limits access, and conducts constant disinfection of surfaces.
