Beginning Saturday, Aug. 28 at midnight, United States Forces Korea will transition to a new method for implementing COVID-19 preventive measures for its affiliated communities that better aligns USFK with Republic of Korea, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Defense guidelines.

USFK’s established standards mirrors the DOD’s substantial transmission threshold definition of an incidence rate that exceeds 50 confirmed cases per 100,000 people for a seven day cumulative rate when applied to approximately 230 Korean districts across the peninsula.

When a Korean district’s incidence rate is greater than or equal to 50, the following COVID-19 mitigation measures will apply for USFK’s affiliated community:

• travel to that particular district is prohibited with the exception of those who live or work in the district or for mission essential activities defined as life, health and safety; this includes but is not limited to emergency service for life/limb/eyesight, medical and dental appointments, pharmacy, education, child care, realtor services, etc. Additionally, all persons who live within these restricted districts shall minimize activities to the greatest extent possible to mitigate COVID-19 exposure. The first battalion/squadron/equivalent level commander or civilian equivalent in the individual or sponsor’s chain of command can authorize an exception to policy letter.
   
• mandatory on-installation indoor mask wear, regardless of vaccination status, at all common areas for installations within the geographic boundary of the particular district; this includes but is not limited to post/base exchanges, commissary, taxis and buses, church and other religious gatherings and services, restaurants except when actively eating, banks, libraries, etc.

USFK will update its interactive Korean district incidence rates map, currently located at www.usfk.mil/coronavirus/, each Wednesday evening. 

While USFK is adjusting its preventive mitigation measures, it is not lowering its guard: all bars, clubs, saunas, bathhouses and off-installation gyms can only be visited by fully vaccinated individuals.

Additionally, all unvaccinated individuals will observe mandatory mask wear at all indoor USFK facilities, at all times, regardless of the local incidence rate.

Further, all USFK arrivals undergoing Health Monitoring Status must continue to follow all requirements, including mandatory indoor mask wear, until the completion of HMS.

Finally, the USFK community must continue to follow all South Korean laws, rules and directives - including ROK social distancing levels and mask wear when off USFK installations - and adhere to USFK core tenets both on and off-installation.

USFK remains at a high level of readiness, and continues to maintain a robust combined defense posture to protect the Republic of Korea against any threat or adversary while implementing and maintaining prudent preventive control measures to protect the force.