Another eight crew members from a bulk carrier anchored off Western Australia tested positive for COVID-19, increasing the total number of cases from the ship to 17.
The eight new cases are crew that were transferred off the Patricia Oldendorff into hotel quarantine in Port Hedland on September 25.
Of the infected crew, seven remain on board the ship, which arrived from Manila last week and is anchored about nine nautical miles from the Pilbara town. What is more, 10 are in hotel quarantine. The remaining four crew members have tested negative to the virus.
Providing an update on the situation, WA Health said that all crew members are in good spirits and have been able to contact family at home.
The seven COVID-19 positive crew members on board had either no or mild symptomsm while daily cleaning is now being carried out on the ship. What is more, separation zones have been established and no work is being donem except for essential operations.
