A SEAFARER on the chemical tanker Allegra has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in hotel quarantine.
The Italian-flagged vessel is currently berthed at the Kwinana Bulk Jetty, south of Fremantle.
According to the ABC, Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said the 22 other crew members on the ship were not showing symptoms, but that the ship should leave Western Australia.
“The state government’s very, very strong view is that the ship should sail as soon as possible,” he said.
“We’d like the ship to sail, to go back — I think it’s to Malaysia — with the cargo and leave Western Australia as soon as possible.
“The crew are healthy, the ship is ready to go. It reduces the pressure on Western Australia if the ship sails immediately.”
The Western Australian Department of Health said the man, in his 20s, presented to Fiona Stanley Hospital for an unrelated illness on Sunday (30 May) and had no COVID-19 symptoms.
“As the man came off the ship, he wore appropriate PPE and health staff followed infection control processes and treated the man as they treat all maritime crew – as a suspected positive COVID case and he was tested for COVID-19,” the department said.
“Following his treatment at the hospital he was discharged back to the vessel. The man returned an initial weak positive test result via GeneXpert but returned a negative confirmatory test (PCR).”
The Allegra seafarer then returned a positive PCR test the following day and was moved to hotel quarantine Monday evening, where he is to undertake 14 days’ quarantine.
WA Health said it is working with WA Police and Commonwealth authorities to manage the departure of the Allegra from the Kwinana Bulk Jetty.
