(LEAD) Pentagon: S. Korea meets conditions to lift travel restrictions on U.S. troops

(ATTN: UPDATES with details, background from 4th para)
By Lee Haye-ah

WASHINGTON, June 12 (Yonhap) -- South Korea meets the conditions to lift travel restrictions that were placed on U.S. troops to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the Pentagon said Friday.

South Korea was added to a list of "green locations" as part of the Defense Department's move to a conditions-based, phased approach to personnel movement and travel, the Pentagon said in a press release.

The travel restrictions will be lifted subject to an assessment of conditions at individual military installations, it said.

The U.S. stations 28,500 troops in South Korea.

In March, the Pentagon announced a 60-day travel restriction for service members, Department of Defense civilians and families traveling to, from or through locations classified as Level 3 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

South Korea was issued the highest Level 3, together with Italy, China and Iran.

The restrictions were later updated. Currently, a host nation or U.S. state or territory is designated a "green location" if it meets three conditions: removal of shelter-in-place orders or other travel restrictions in the area; 14-day downward trajectory of flu-like and COVID-19-like symptoms; and 14-day downward trajectory of new COVID-19 cases or positive tests.

The other host nations on the list are Bahrain, Belgium, Germany, Japan, and Britain.

In the U.S., the designation applies to 38 states, including New York and Texas; the District of Columbia; and Guam.

"The secretaries of the military departments, commanders of the combatant commands, and the chief management officer will assess specific DOD installations, facilities, or locations under their purview," the Pentagon said.

hague@yna.co.kr
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