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(LEAD) Military extends antivirus scheme; off-base travel under control

All News 10:26 March 02, 2021

(ATTN: ADDS new cases in paras 8-10, 2nd photo)

SEOUL, March 2 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry decided to maintain the current social distancing rules for the military, which allow service members to vacation in a limited manner, for another two weeks, while banning one-day off-base trips, officials said Tuesday.

In mid-February, the ministry lifted a vacation ban for enlisted service members that has been in place for over two months, as it lowered the antivirus level by one notch to the third-highest Level 2 in its five-tier alert system.

"We've decided to extend the current Level 2 social distancing until March 14 in line with the government's guidance," a ministry official said.

Under the Level 2 scheme, troops are allowed to go on vacations while strictly adhering to antivirus measures, such as a mandatory quarantine and coronavirus tests. Up to 20 percent of members of each base can take leave at the same time, according to the ministry.

But staying out overnight and meeting outside visitors are banned in principle, it added.

A service member undergoes a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing facility in central Seoul on March 1, 2021. (Yonhap)

A service member undergoes a COVID-19 test at a makeshift testing facility in central Seoul on March 1, 2021. (Yonhap)

Currently, the government enforces Level 2 distancing for the capital area, home to around half of the nation's 52 million population, and Level 1.5 for other parts of the country.

Restaurants and bars in the capital area are allowed to remain open for an hour longer than before until 10 p.m., and bans on gatherings of five or more people are in place nationwide. The measures are to be in place until March 14.

On Tuesday, the ministry said an Army officer and three soldiers in Sejong, 120 kilometers south of Seoul, have tested positive for the new virus after an infection was reported at their base.

Among some 700 people tested following the initial case, all others except for the four tested negative, it said.

The latest cases brought the total number of infections reported among the military population to 579.

Nationwide, the country reported 344 more COVID-19 cases, including 319 local infections, on Tuesday, raising the total caseload to 90,372, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said.

Soldiers enter Munsan Station in Paju, north of Seoul, on Feb. 15, 2021, as the defense ministry lifted a monthslong restriction on military leave the same day in accordance with the easing of the government's social distancing rules against COVID-19. (Yonhap)

Soldiers enter Munsan Station in Paju, north of Seoul, on Feb. 15, 2021, as the defense ministry lifted a monthslong restriction on military leave the same day in accordance with the easing of the government's social distancing rules against COVID-19. (Yonhap)

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