Second sailor tests positive for COVID-19
Public health authorities have outlined a plan for the sailors who were on board HMCS Halifax, which now has a second confirmed case of COVID-19.
On Monday, the ship arrived at its home port after a six-month mission in Europe, but because a member tested positive for COVID-19 while en route back to Halifax from Operation Reassurance a day prior, the entire crew had to do polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.
Those tests were processed by the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) laboratory and a second positive case was confirmed Tuesday morning.
According to Rear Admiral Brian Santarpia, commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Joint Task Force Atlantic, the two sailors who tested positive for COVID-19 are both asymptomatic.
Santarpia said MARLANT has been working closely with federal and provincial health authorities to outline a plan for the roughly 250 sailors who were on board the ship.
He said the two sailors who tested positive for COVID-19 are asymptomatic and are required to isolate for 14 days by themselves, in accordance with provincial direction.
“We'll keep them here on the (CFB Halifax) base comfortable and after 14 days, if they've gotten negative tests, then they'll be free to go on their way,” Santarpia explained.
As for the sailors who tested negative, Santarpia said they're considered “medium risk” since they're fully vaccinated. They're allowed to go home and be with their families, so long as they isolate for seven days and get two more COVID-19 tests done.
Their families, however, do not need to self-isolate.
“They can isolate at home and their families can carry on with their business,” Santarpia said.
All the members need to complete their isolation period in Nova Scotia.
Those who tested negative for COVID-19 and aren't able to isolate at home for various reasons such as having a “vulnerable” family member or being from out of province are going to stay at CFB Halifax for the seven-day isolation period, Santarpia noted.
“We've taken them off the ship so they can spread out and each have their own room and they'll spend seven days while they're getting two tests on the base,” he added.
If the situation changes and there are additional positive cases, it's possible that NSHA and MARLANT will adjust these directions as required.
According to Santarpia, the last port visit that HMCS Halifax's crew did was in Reykjavik, Iceland, for a couple of days, which is where the two crew members likely caught the virus.
“Knowing sailors, I'm sure they're pretty stoic and they're disappointed, but they're probably very happy to know and to not be a risk to anybody else that they might spread it and they're happy that it's all settled out that the rest of their ship mates can go home,” he said.
While the COVID-19 cases have dampened the sailors' arrival in Canada, Santarpia said "it's a real relief" for the crew to have things sorted and a plan that aims to ensure the health and safety of everyone.
“Everybody really came together and worked hard to come to the right decision that ensured that everybody stayed and ensured that many sailors could get home and see their families as soon as possible,” he added.