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Newcomers must spend two weeks in rooms similar to this one inside the isolation facility at Camp Humphreys, South Korea.

Newcomers must spend two weeks in rooms similar to this one inside the isolation facility at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. (Matthew Keeler/Stars and Stripes)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea — A U.S. service member tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in South Korea on a commercial flight from the United States, the military said Wednesday.

The announcement raised to 40 the total number of confirmed cases affiliated with U.S. Forces Korea. This includes 13 troops traveling from abroad for new assignments on the Korean peninsula.

The service member arrived at Incheon International Airport on Sunday and was bused to a quarantine barracks at Camp Humphreys to await the results of his coronavirus test, USFK said.

“Since testing positive, he has been moved to Camp Humphreys’ isolation barracks designated for confirmed COVID-19 cases,” according to the press release. COVID-19 is the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.

All USFK personnel who fly into the country must be tested upon arrival and undergo a two-week quarantine. They are only released after receiving negative results on a second coronavirus test.

Military health professionals thoroughly cleaned the bus and quarantine room he occupied but decided only limited contract tracing was needed since all other passengers into South Korea also face mandatory testing and quarantine procedures.

Most USFK coronavirus patients have recovered, but five active-duty service members are still positive, the command said.

“Despite the confirmed cases, USFK remains at a high level of readiness,” it added.

gamel.kim@stripes.com Twitter: @kimgamel

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