Nearly half of all South Korean workers who returned home from Iraq on Friday are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus.
The group of 72 South Korean nationals who worked at Iraqi construction sites arrived at Incheon International Airport in the morning on a chartered plane.
Thrity-one of them were showing symptoms of the virus.
Senior health ministry official Yoon Tae-ho said those with and without symptoms were separated before boarding the flight.
Those who test positive for COVID-19 will be sent to hospitals and treatment centers while the others stay at temporary shelters for a two-week quarantine.
Earlier, the government brought back 293 workers from the hard-hit Middel Eastern country, 77 of whom tested positive for COVID-19.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
