Winter Olympics: Soldiers Replace Security Guards After Norovirus Threat

Soldiers have been called in to replace private security guards at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea after they were taken to the hospital with norovirus.

Diarrhoea and vomiting hit the guards on Sunday and around 1,200 of them have been withdrawn from Olympic sites, with 41 having reported the aforementioned symptoms.

The head of the organising committee for the Games has apologised for the situation and hand sanitiser has already been distributed.

The Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games will start on Friday.

Speaking about the situation, Games spokesman Christophe Dubi revealed that adequate measures are being put in place to deal with the situation.

He said: “Very stringent measures are in place when it comes to food and beverages.”

“As soon as a case is reported then all the area gets disinfected.” he added.

The Games’ organising committee president, Lee Hee-beom, apologised for the situation. In his words, he said: “I would like to apologise for this.”

“Our disease control centre [and] other related government agencies here are now discussing countermeasures.” he concluded.