Director-general of the World Health Organisation Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that the delta Covid-19 variant is “ripping around the world at a scorching pace”. Video / WHO
More crew members on board a container ship struck by Covid-19 have tested positive for the virus.
A total of nine crew members on the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel, the Mattina, have returned positive results overnight after all 21 mariners were tested when two of their crew started to show flu-likesymptoms.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed the news in a statement this morning, saying: "Following confirmation yesterday afternoon of the first two cases, all additional results came back late last night, confirming a further seven cases of Covid-19 aboard the ship."
The statement also revealed that a local port member - the Southport pilot - is the only other person to have had contact with the ship's crew after he went aboard when the vessel entered the port.
The Mattina container ship has been struck by Covid. Image / enautical
"Pilots were required to board vessels of this size when berthing. The pilot wore appropriate (personal protective equipment) and was fully vaccinated.
"No one else has been on or off the ship since it docked."
The testing that took place yesterday morning was carried out in the gangway area. All appropriate protocols were followed by health stuff, including PPE, the ministry said.
Exactly what will happen to the ship is not yet known, as the Southern District Health Board's health officials, alongside other agencies, work to determine the next steps for the vessel.
