Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the crewmember onboard MV Corona, which was suspected of having the coronavirus, was eventually tested negative. At the same time, AIDAmira cruise ship which was also quarantined at the Port of Cape Town in South Africa, amid COVID-19 suspicion, found to be uninfected.
In fact, it was reported that the potential crewmember that has acquired COVID-19 is a MV Corona cargo vessel crew member, that had been on a flight with a fellow crew member and six passengers who boarded the MV AidAmira.
Although, the South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) revealed that the tests results were negative.
All parties are relieved that these results have returned negative and that plans can be set in motion for the vessels to continue their journeys. This means there have to date been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in any of our ports but we will remain on high alert after this first scare and will keep working with the Port Health unit of the Department of Health to manage vessels who report potential cases.
…said Captain Sabelo Mdlalose, Acting Chief Harbour Master at TNPA.
For the records, both vessels had been quarantined outside the Port of Cape Town until the tests’ results.
In light of the situation, the port health authorities granted the vessels a clearance certificate and allowed them to continue their journeys.