부산항 러시아 선박 확진 17명•접촉자 176명<br /><br />A Covid-19 cluster infection confirmed on two Russian cargo ships docked in the southeastern city of Busan.<br />17 Russian sailors from the boats have tested positive so far.<br />More than 170 people at the port are reported to have come in contact with them and are now being tested.<br />Jang Tae-hyun reports.<br />This new cluster has again put the South Korean health authorities on high alert, and highlighted a glaring loophole in port quarantine.<br />On the first ship in Busan where the virus was found, 16 of its 21 crew tested positive on Tuesday and were sent to the Busan Medical Center.<br />Later, one more sailor on a ship docked next to it tested positive as well.<br />The first ship had arrived at Busan's Gamcheon Port early Sunday from Vladivostok.<br />Already three of the crew had high fevers.<br />The authorities are now testing the people who came in contact with the crew, most of whom are port workers who'd been helping unload cargo and repairing the ship.<br />"Including five other sailors, we are testing 176 people who were in contact with the infected. These include 21 crew from a ship nearby and 63 other port employees who helped with unloading."<br />The city government has quarantined these people and will be testing them.<br />Also, South Korea will soon start testing ship crew members from Russia before they can disembark.<br />Currently, when Russian sailors come into the country they only have to submit a health questionnaire, which is how the crew with fevers managed to enter undetected.<br />Jang Tae-hyun, Arirang News.<br />
