Virus outbreak reported on 2nd Taiwanese warship in as many days

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - Taiwan on Tuesday confirmed a COVID-19 outbreak on a second naval warship in as many days.

Several crew members of the Kidd-class destroyer Keelung were found to be positive in rapid antigen tests, said navy spokesman Rear Adm. Feng Kuo-wei.

The ship, which was on a routine mission, was ordered to return to base and have everyone on board tested for COVID-19.

“Those who later tested positive using the more reliable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are currently under quarantine,” Feng said, according to news outlet Focus Taiwan.

The navy, however, asserted that the virus outbreaks will not affect its combat readiness.

On Monday, a Knox-class Fong Yang frigate was called back to base after some crew members tested positive for the virus.

Earlier this month, Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng said more than 1,000 of Taiwan’s 180,000 military personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, but fewer than 100 were hospitalized.

The self-ruled island is battling an unprecedented surge in coronavirus infections, with 65,833 more cases and 38 deaths reported on Tuesday.

To date, Taiwan, home to over 24 million people, has reported 896,059 virus cases, including 1,135 deaths.