It has been confirmed that 49 of the Navy's Cheonghae Unit 34 soldiers have tested positive for the additional simple test so far, with 7 confirmed COVID-19 cases.
As the results of the complete PCR test of crew members commissioned by the local health authorities are being delayed, there is growing concern that a large-scale group infection may become a reality.
According to multiple military sources, the commander of the 34th Division of the Cheonghae Unit delivered a 'notice' explaining the progress of the simple test and the life of the unit to the family members of the unit at dawn on the morning of the 17th.
In the notice, the deputy chief explained, "Around 15:00 yesterday, before the PCR test results, the antigen test results for the first 50 people were positive, except for one." He explained, "We will know only when the PCR test results come out, but mass confirmation seems inevitable." .
The simple test using the rapid antigen test kit has the advantage of taking only 15 minutes from sample collection to confirming the result, but it is known to be more inaccurate than PCR test.
Choi Won-seok, a professor of infectious disease at Korea University Ansan Hospital, said, "If the simple test is positive, it should be considered that there are already many confirmed cases." He emphasized, "Even if the simple test is negative, it is good to separate the space as much as possible."
Currently, the 34th wing of the Cheonghae Unit, the Munmu the Great (4,400 tons class) is waiting for the PCR results while preparing to separate the bedrooms and dining areas at the level of the cohort (same group) by dividing the ship's area itself.
As of 6 a.m. today, at 6 a.m. on the Munmu the Great, one additional person hospitalized at a local hospital was confirmed.
In addition, as 5 crew members were hospitalized after being isolated from a local hospital for pneumonia this morning, the total number of hospitalized patients increased to 12 (including 2 confirmed patients).