Pinoy crew members with COVID-19 on board ship off Australia now 17

Eight more Filipino crew members on a cargo ship off Port Hedland have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total to 17, according to the Department of Health Western Australia (WA).

In a press release on Monday, the department said the eight additional positive cases from the ship Patricia Oldendorff, operated by Filipino crew members, were transferred to a hotel.

“This brings the total confirmed cases associated with the vessel to 17 —seven aboard the vessel as part of the essential crew and 10 in hotel quarantine,” the Department of Health WA said.

Of the 20 crew members and the captain, the health department added that the four remaining crew members have tested negative.

“All crew members are in good spirits and have been able to contact family at home. Crew also have been provided access to culturally appropriate food by a Filipino chef,” it added.

In a statement on Monday, shipping company Oldendorff Carriers said a crew change was conducted in the Philippines on September 5.

“The crew change was done in compliance with the Department of Transportation in the Philippines, Protocol for Crew Change and Repatriation,” Oldendorff Carriers said.

According to the shipping company, all crew members were quarantined in the Philippines prior to joining the vessel. Five days before boarding, they were tested with RNA-PCR.

“All crewmembers tested negative for the virus before leaving the Philippines,” it said.

On September 16, the vessel arrived off Port Hedland. The captain notified the port authorities on arrival that two crewmembers were not feeling well.

“The authorities arranged for the crew to be tested and two crewmembers initially tested positive for the virus. Subsequent RNA-PCR tests have shown that 17 crewmembers have now tested positive,” it said.

Nine crew members initially tested positive for COVID-19, according to Philippine Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III. He said they are already receiving medical attention.

Oldendorff Carriers said all crew members "are feeling well with only a few seamen showing very slight infection symptoms."

"Our thoughts are with the crewmembers, caregivers, and their families at this difficult time," it added. —KBK, GMA News