August 4 2021
New Zealand has passed the 2 million Covid vaccine jabs milestone. Of these, 1,251,000 are first doses and almost 770,000 people have had two doses and are fully vaccinated.
Further Covid-19 testing of crew aboard a Tauranga-based ship with links to an infected Australian pilot, will determine when it will be able to berth in Napier, its next scheduled stop.
On Monday morning Napier Port's website listed the ship's arrival time as Saturday evening, August 14.
The Singapore-flagged RioDe La Plata container ship was first scheduled to arrive in Napier Port on Monday morning.
However, the Ministry of Health confirmed on Monday morning that 11 of the 21 crew had tested positive for Covid-19 while in Tauranga.
At least some of these are considered active cases and further test results, expected today, will help determine how many of the crew are likely to be historical cases and no longer infectious.
Public Health staff took the test swabs in Tauranga from the crew as part of the requirements for entry for the vessel to Napier - its next stop.
A Napier Port spokesperson said this was done as part of normal border checks for all vessels arriving in port.
"Our protocol is that any vessel, seafarers or people that are close contacts of a confirmed case of Covid-19 are required to self-isolate onboard the vessel, at anchor, and test negative for Covid-19 before we will approve it to berth."
The spokesperson said the port would keep working closely with government agencies as to any next steps.
Eleven of 21 crew onboard the Rio De La Plata container ship, which is scheduled to arrive in Napier Port on Saturday evening, have tested positive for Covid-19. Photo / NZME
"Our priority is to keep everyone at the port and in the community safe and obviously we're also concerned for the wellbeing of the crew on the ship anchored off Tauranga."
In a media statement, the Ministry of Health said all of the crew on board the Rio De La Plata were reported to be well, with none reporting any symptoms.
No crew members came port-side while the ship was being unloaded in Tauranga however, 94 Tauranga port workers, who spent time on the vessel, have been stood down until they return a negative Covid-19 test.
The ship is linked to a case in an Australian pilot who was onboard the vessel July in Queensland and who later developed symptoms and then tested positive for Covid-19 nine days after being aboard the vessel.
The Australian pilot is confirmed to have the Delta variant and has not been linked to any other Queensland cases.
It follows Covid-19 Minister Chris Hipkins blaming a "wave of misinformation" for keeping 44 per cent of port workers from getting their first dose of Pfizer, as reported by RNZ.
The Maritime Union, which represents waterfront and port workers and seafarers, is calling for health authorities to offer one-on-one consultations for port union workers who are unsure about vaccination to counteract Covid-19 disinformation.
