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The main entrance of USFK’s Camp Humphreys base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (Hankyoreh archives)

Full-scale novel coronavirus testing is to be performed on all foreign nationals who work on US military bases in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, and live outside of its barracks. The city plans to hold discussions with the US military on the methods and costs of the testing, which applies to overseas workers affiliated with partner companies working at Camp Humphreys (K-6) and Osan Air Base (K-55) within the area of jurisdiction.

The city of Pyeongtaek announced on Apr. 5 that it made the decision following an emergency meeting with the US military in response to the growing number of coronavirus diagnoses involving individuals associated with US military bases.

“The US military prioritizes the testing of US troops who live in the barracks, which has led to fears of community infection involving residents outside the base,” a Pyeongtaek city official explained.

“In order to prevent the coronavirus from spreading, we have decided to conduct full-scale testing of all foreign nationals living outside the base,” the official said.

The city of Pyeongtaek and the US military plan to establish a separate memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation toward preventing the virus’s spread, including information sharing and the establishment of a hotline.

By Kim Gi-seong, South Gyeonggi correspondent

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