Cheonghae Unit Member "All Rapid Tests Negative, Confident It's Not Infection... Possible Contamination Through Corrosion"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Joint Coverage by the Ministry of National Defense and Asia Economy, Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] It has been understood that the Cheonghae Unit, upon conducting rapid antibody tests due to an increase in initial cold symptoms, judged the possibility of COVID-19 infection to be low as all results came back negative. Criticism has been raised that the 34th Cheonghae Unit’s Munmu the Great ship brought rapid antibody test kits, which are less accurate, instead of rapid antigen test kits, delaying initial responses such as quarantine and thereby exacerbating the spread of COVID-19.

An officer A from the 34th Cheonghae Unit said in a phone interview with the Ministry of National Defense joint coverage team on the 23rd, "When the number of people with cold symptoms increased initially, we conducted kit tests," and added, "Since all results came back negative, we judged the likelihood of COVID-19 to be low."

Soldier B, the first person to show cold symptoms, also said, "Since all results from the rapid tests were negative, we all thought it was just a cold," and added, "Because we thought it wasn’t COVID-19, it seems it took a long time before we actually got diagnostic tests."

The Munmu the Great ship docked at a port near the African waters from the 28th of last month to the 1st for loading military supplies, and the first cold symptoms appeared on the 2nd of this month. However, initially only medication was prescribed, and as cold patients surged to about 100 symptomatic individuals, rapid tests were conducted on about 40 people only on the 10th.

Officer A said, "As the number of cold symptom cases increased, I understand that the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued an order to undergo polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing," and added, "At that time, the first tests were conducted, and quarantine of confirmed and non-confirmed cases began." This means quarantine started only on the 15th, when the first six confirmed cases were identified. This was 13 days after the first cold patient appeared and five days after the rapid tests were conducted.

The quarantine involved separating bedrooms for confirmed and non-confirmed cases, and meals were served first to non-confirmed individuals, followed by confirmed cases.

Officer A said, "We also separated bathroom usage times, but since the virus was not eliminated during those times, I think the number of confirmed cases increased." He continued, "When many people complained of symptoms, PCR test results were not all available, so we did not know who was positive or negative, and we took measures to quarantine people who had never been sick before."

Officer A also explained, "Those who did not visit the medical office or did not take medicine were judged as non-confirmed cases and were completely quarantined in the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) defense area and not allowed to come out," and added, "Surface cleaning and duties were mainly performed by confirmed cases who had symptoms." He further added, "Non-confirmed cases were brought out of the quarantine room wearing protective suits under the supervision of the medical staff."

The unit members unanimously agreed that the coronavirus was likely introduced through food supplies brought in from the last port of call.

Since about ten people who handled supply reception and disinfection on land wore protective suits and contact with locals at the port was blocked, Officer A said about the infection source, "It seems highly likely to be food supplies," and added, "The packaging of the provisions was poor, so I think the virus might have entered through that."

Another soldier C said, "There was a damaged box containing provisions," and added, "Although the exact infection route is unknown, since most of the early cases were cooks, provisions are suspected." Another officer D also said, "The packaging of the provisions was not neat and was dirty."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense, which arranged the phone interview that day, stated that they voluntarily selected three officers and four soldiers through an application process.

Regarding some crew members’ statements in interviews with certain media that "blood-tinged sputum appeared," most of them said they did not see or did not have such cases. Another officer E said, "I did not see anyone coughing up blood-tinged sputum," and D said, "No one coughed up blood or begged for help," explaining, "Everyone knew it was COVID-19 but encouraged each other cheerfully."

However, soldier C reported, "One severely ill officer spat up blood-tinged sputum while sleeping and was transferred to a local hospital next month."

They also expressed disappointment over some critical media reports pointing out early response inadequacies and regrets about leaving the ship to colleagues and returning early. Another soldier F said, "We have been carrying out our mission under difficult circumstances, and I hope our honor will not be tarnished by exaggerated expressions and articles," and soldier G said, "Since we are passing on a difficult situation, I feel sorry for the 35th unit."

Officer E said, "We devoted ourselves to the mission for the country and the people, and this situation occurred beyond our control," adding, "I felt regret about parts where our dedication was distorted and viewed negatively."

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