Maersk Line issued a statement informing that mariners onboard the US flagged Maersk Idaho have been positively tested for COVID-19, in what is claimed to be the first reported outbreak of the virus on an American commercial ship.
Specifically, the shipping company stated that a crew member was transferred to a local hospital with pnemonia-like symptoms upon the vessel’s arrival in Newark, New Jersey on June 19 following a transatlantic voyage.
Consequently, the mariner was positively tested for COVID-19 and now remains in stable condition hospitalized. Additional COVID-19 testing that wa conducted onboard the vessel, revealed nine additional crew members positive on the virus. All nine are reported to be asymptomatic.
The Maersk Idaho currently remains at anchor off the coast of Norfolk.
