Busan Port Plunged into Fear of Infection Originating from Russian Sailors

32 More Russian Sailors Test Positive... 78 Cases Across 8 Ships
One Repair Company Employee Also Infected... Port Infection Fear Spreads

On the afternoon of the 16th, a Russian-flagged distant-water fishing vessel docked at a ship repair yard in Yeongdo-gu, Busan. Three crew members of the Russian-flagged distant-water fishing vessel, which entered Gamcheon Port last month and was moved to the Yeongdo ship repair yard, tested positive. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yong-woo] Busan Port has been engulfed in fear of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) originating from Russian seafarers.

It has been confirmed that Russian seafarers aboard a vessel that entered the North Port of Busan have been collectively infected with COVID-19. One employee of a company involved in the repair work of this vessel also tested positive, suggesting a high possibility of infection from the Russian seafarers.

According to the Busan National Quarantine Station and health authorities on the 24th, a full investigation of 94 crew members aboard the Russian 7,733-ton fishing vessel P, which entered the Sinsundae Pier of Busan North Port on the 8th, revealed that 32 tested positive.

Among the 32, six showed symptoms while 26 were asymptomatic carriers. The remaining 62 crew members tested negative.

The quarantine station, in consultation with Busan city health authorities, plans to transfer the 32 confirmed seafarers to Busan Medical Center, a dedicated infectious disease hospital, for inpatient treatment during the day.

The 62 seafarers who tested negative will be quarantined on the ship. The quarantine station plans to conduct immediate diagnostic tests if any of the negative-tested seafarers show suspicious symptoms, to prevent further infections.

Over the past month, a total of 78 seafarers from eight Russian vessels that entered Busan Port have been infected, putting Busan Port in a state of emergency.

It has been identified that more than 20 employees worked on repairing the P vessel, and their investigation and health status are being closely monitored.

With the confirmation of collective infection among Russian seafarers, it is highly likely that Mr. A, an employee of a Busan ship repair company who boarded the P vessel for repair work and tested positive on the 23rd, was infected by the Russian seafarers.

There is also concern that additional confirmed cases may emerge among the approximately 20 company employees involved in the P vessel repair work.

Although boarding quarantine was conducted when the vessel entered the port, no suspicious symptoms were reported, raising a red alert for quarantine at Busan Port.

Busan city health authorities conducted diagnostic tests on close contacts such as Mr. A’s family and coworkers, all of whom tested negative.

With confirmed cases emerging consecutively from Russian vessels entering Busan Port, fear of cluster infections originating from the port is growing.

A Busan Port official said, “Not only at Gamcheon Port but also at vessels docked at the North Port, confirmed cases are pouring out, increasing the fear of infection among port workers and repair company employees who have direct contact with Russian vessels.”

Health officials are concerned that the infection may spread beyond the port to the local community.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.