Thirteen crew on carrier test positive for Covid-19
At least 13 crew members from a bulk carrier docked at the Gqeberha harbour have tested positive for Covid-19.
This is according to health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo, who said the vessel — the MV Consolidator — docked at the harbour on April 25.
It had sailed from Kenya and was due to offload its cargo in India.
“Four of the crew members were due to disembark to fly home and leave the country,” Kupelo said.
“They had to be subjected to PCR [polymerase chain reaction] testing before disembarking.”
He said all four had tested positive for the virus.
“They are now in isolation in a facility approved by the Eastern Cape health department.”
The other 18 crew members were quarantined on the vessel and tested for the virus.
Kupelo said the results came back on Sunday and showed nine of them had tested positive.
One was admitted to Life St George’s Hospital and the others placed in an isolation facility.
“In the meantime, all operations on the vessel have been suspended and the vessel itself has been placed under quarantine in its berth under police guard.
“The vessel will be decontaminated and the crew managed accordingly.”
Kupelo said when the master of the vessel applied to enter the port, he allegedly declared there was no illness on board.
“However, it was established that, a few days after leaving Mombasa, one of the crew members did report to the master that he was not well.
“He remained unwell until the vessel arrived in Port Elizabeth, where he was referred for medical treatment.”
A second vessel, LNG Rosenrot, that had anchored off the Bay saw two crew members test positive before they could board the vessel.
“The vessel never came into the port and the two were from outer anchorage.”
“They were placed in isolation at health facilities after tests showed they were positive.
“Contact tracing was done from the contact tracing list provided by the port.
“None of the local contacts tested positive,” Kupelo said.
Port manager Rajesh Dana said a Transnet employee had come into contact with the crew of the bulk carrier.
“The employee was immediately placed in quarantine to self-monitor at home. The employee has not shown any symptoms.
“Aligned to the Department of Health guideline, the employee will undergo a medical screening before returning to work.”