24 NAMRIA crewmen contract Covid-19

UBIC BAY FREEPORT - Some 24 crewmembers of ships operated by the government mapping agency National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA) have been found infected with the new coronavirus diseases (Covid-19) and they transferred onshore to an isolation facility here.

SAccording to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), which monitors Covid-19 cases in this free port, the infected crewmen came from the four NAMRIA vessels that are based in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Wilma Eisma, Chairman and Administrator, said the positive cases were shuttled by the SBMA Covid-19 team on Wednesday night to the Manila Times temporary treatment and monitoring facility (TTMF) at Subic’s Cubi area, which had just opened for operation that morning.

“We have taken every precaution to prevent further transmission among the crewmen, as well as personnel in the Port of Subic,” said Eisma on Friday".

“I’ve ordered a ‘gangway-up’status for all the NAMRIA ships, which means that all the remaining crew would have to stay onboard and cannot come onshore except for emergency,” the SBMA chairman said.

She said that SBMA health officials, as well as port authorities, have already completed contact tracing and put in place safeguards to ensure the observance of Covid-19 protocols and other health safety measures imposed in Subic.

“The vessel commanders have been very cooperative thus far— with the SBMA, as well as the Bureau of Quarantine and the Philippine Coast Guard, so we’re positive that this health issue would be resolved soon,” Eisma sai d.

According to Dr. Solomon Jacalne, head of the SBMA Public Health and Safety Department, a total of 18 crewmembers of BRP Hydrographer Presbiterio had contracted Covid-19. Meanwhile, four other positive cases were recorded aboard BRP Hydrographer Hizon, one on BRP Hydrographer Palma, and another on BRP Hydrographer Ventura.