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Russian cargo ship crews are being treated as a group infected with Corona 19 in Busan. Over the course of the day, the number of confirmed patients increased by one, to 17, and the number of people in close contact with these sailors increased significantly to 176.

Reporter Kim Hyeong-rae reports.

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Russian frozen cargo ship'Ice Stream' arrived at Gamcheon port on the 21st after stopping at Vladivostok, Russia on the 16th.

The quarantine authorities were informed on the morning of the 22nd by a shipping agent from a Russian shipping company that a captain had been dispatched locally.

Subsequently, as a result of conducting a corona19 diagnostic test on the crew, 16 out of 21 were confirmed.

An additional crew member was confirmed in the'Ice Crystal' cargo ship belonging to the same shipping company that was anchored next door.

The problem is that Korean workers got on and off cargo on both sides of the ship before being contacted by the former captain.

There are more than 170 contacts, including port workers, dockers and repair workers who unloaded.

Health officials say the majority of confirmed sailors are asymptomatic, but some have mild respiratory symptoms.

[Kwon Joon-wook/Director of National Health Research Institute: Although it is a mild symptom, I would like to point out that it is a situation where you have to watch the progress in the future when looking at the age, etc.]

The confirmed sailors were transferred to the Busan Medical Center, a medical institution dedicated to Corona19, and will be treated in Korea in the future.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries temporarily closed Piers 1 and 3 at Gamcheon Port until More (26th).