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The Republic of Korea Navy’s 4,400-ton destroyer Munmu the Great (provided by the Republic of Korea Navy)

Six confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection have emerged among members of the 34th contingent of the Cheonghae Unit onboard the 4,400-ton ROKS Munmu the Great destroyer, which was deployed to the Gulf of Aden off the African coast earlier this year.

The anti-piracy unit may be unable to complete its operations if the number of confirmed cases continues to rise.

“Following the transportation of a Cheonghae Unit official to a local hospital with symptoms of pneumonia on July 14, six contacts and other individuals with symptoms all tested positive,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.

Out of the 300 or so crew members, the military has isolated those with confirmed infections and symptoms in a separate section of the destroyer. The Ministry of National Defense said it was “in discussions with the local diplomatic office to perform testing on all crew members.”

The official who first reported pneumonia symptoms reportedly performed military supply loading duties late last month at a local port. The total cases could end up even higher once testing is performed on the entire crew.

Given the nature of its operations, which necessitate members working for long periods on the same ship, the Cheonghae Unit’s entire 34th contingent may have to return to South Korea.

The JCS said it was “examining measures for prompt treatment of the confirmed patients, containment of transmission, and transportation for a return to South Korea.”

By Gil Yun-hyung, staff reporter

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