32 Navy Amphibious Ship Personnel Confirmed with COVID-19 in Large Numbers (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Thirty-two Navy personnel have been collectively confirmed positive for the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

According to the Navy on the 23rd, a Navy landing ship officer received notification from health authorities that his child’s daycare teacher tested positive. The officer arrived at Pyeongtaek Port the previous day and underwent diagnostic testing at a nearby hospital, which confirmed a positive result.

The officer was aboard the landing ship with 84 personnel and is suspected of having transmitted COVID-19 to the servicemen. After the Navy conducted comprehensive testing of personnel on the ship, as of 10 a.m. that day, 31 additional cases were confirmed positive, 48 tested negative, and 4 were awaiting test results.

On the same morning, the Navy convened an emergency commanders’ meeting chaired by Chief of Naval Operations Bu Seok-jong, deciding to raise the military’s social distancing level to 2.5 for all ships and major units in Busan, Jinhae, Pyeongtaek, Donghae, Mokpo, Incheon, Jeju, and Pohang for two weeks.

Accordingly, except for pre-discharge leave and some petition leaves, all leaves and outings for personnel on the affected ships and units are temporarily suspended. Officers’ private gatherings and dinners must be postponed or canceled. Additionally, PCR testing will be conducted for all crew members of the ships, and crew members are required to remain on board until they receive a negative test result.

Furthermore, the Navy reported that another Navy ship’s officer received notification of a family member’s positive test and is currently returning to base during mission execution.