The Winter Olympics hasn’t even had its Opening Ceremony yet and it’s already making waves. According to CNN, South Korea has deployed 900 military personnel after more than 1,000 security guards were released from their responsibilities following an norovirus outbreak at PyeongChang’s Olympic facilities.
Despite those monstrous numbers, not all of the security guards were affected. It was only 41 employees who suffered from the sudden outbreak of the gastrointestinal virus, but officials were worried that it would spread to other guards. Therefore, they pulled all 1,200 guards from their posts and employed the military in their spots instead.
Organizers said, “The military personnel…will be responsible for security checks of the 20 venues as they take up jobs such as security searches, previously done by civilian safety personnel, until the patients’ condition is normalized.”
South Korea deployed 900 military personnel after 1,200 security guards were pulled from duty following a norovirus outbreak at Winter Olympic facilities in Pyeongchang https://t.co/U5RbGPXdYJ pic.twitter.com/WvuzrG8X6m
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 6, 2018
In order to stop the spread of the virus to the Olympic arenas and transportation, everything involved with the Winter Games, including Olympic Village accommodations, went through disinfection. It certainly would not do if half of the athletes who worked so hard to get there or the spectators who had spent a great deal of money to see the Games wound up missing events because they’re stuck in the bathroom.
All of the affected guards are staying in the same building to contain the outbreak as much as possible. The water around the facilities, as well as the food being served, is being tested in order to figure out what caused the outbreak in the first place. With so many athletes, spectators, dignitaries and officials soon entering the area, it’s tantamount that the problem is resolved before the Opening Ceremony on Friday, Feb. 9.
Don’t forget to tune in to see all of the Olympic excitement, starting Thursday, Feb. 8, and continuing for the following two weeks.