▲ Citizens form a long queue to undergo tests at an outdoor COVID-19 testing station in Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, on March 3, 2021. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) USFK-coronavirus

(LEAD) 8 USFK soldiers test positive for virus, total exceeds 800

(ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES throughout with additional cases)

SEOUL, March 25 (Yonhap) -- An American service member stationed in South Korea has tested positive for the new coronavirus, while seven other U.S. troops have been confirmed to be infected with the virus following their arrival here, the U.S. military said Thursday.

The latest cases raised the total number of infections reported among the military population to 806, most of who tested positive upon their arrival here from the United States.

A service member at Camp Hovey in Dongducheon, 40 kilometers north of Seoul, was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Tuesday after developing symptoms.

"KDCA and USFK health professionals are actively conducting contact tracing to determine whether anyone else may have been exposed to this individual, and to identify and ensure all known on-post and off-post facilities visited by the individual are thoroughly cleaned," USFK said in a release. KDCA stands for the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Separately, seven U.S. service members were found to be infected with the virus upon their arrival in South Korea between March 8 and 22.

Three of them arrived here on U.S. government-chartered flights, while the others traveled via commercial flights.

"None of the new arrivals have interacted with anyone residing within USFK installations or the local community," the U.S. military said.

All USFK-affiliated individuals arriving in South Korea are required to undergo a virus test and quarantine for 14 days. Medical personnel administer a second test prior to their release.

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