Soldiers Called in to Replace over 1,000 Sick Security Staff Members

Soldiers have taken on the work of guarding Pyeongchang's ice area ahead of the Winter Olympics' Opening Ceremony.

• By Sydny Shepard
• Feb 07, 2018

Over 1,000 private security guards at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea have been taken to the hospital with norovirus, prompting organizers to call in soldiers as guards instead.

On Sunday dozens off guards began to report symptoms of norovirus and since then nearly 1,200 guards have been withdrawn from Olympic sites to be quarantined until tested for the illness. Lee Hee-beom, chairman of the Games' organizing committee said that the private security staff will be sequestered until declared well.

At least 41 of the officers have tested positive for norovirus, which is a contagious virus that causes stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea. The most effective way to stop the spread of the virus is to practice good hand-washing and personal hygiene.

The Pyeongchang Games are due to start Friday South Korea with the Opening Ceremony. The 900 soldiers brought in to cover the sequestered security staff are going to be concentrated around the ice arena where the Opening Ceremony is to take place.