Crew member on ship of West Australian coast tests positive to coronavirus

A crew member on-board a ship has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now being treated on the mainland after a major retrieval operation.

A crew member on-board a ship off the West Australian coast has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been taken to the mainland for treatment.

Premier Mark McGowan said a man aged in his 50s became ill on April 8 on-board bulk carrier AquaGenie, off the coast of Karratha.

A rapid test was performed on-board the ship, then a smaller ship was sent to retrieve the ill crew member on Sunday.

The crew member tested positive for COVID-19.

He was taken to Karratha Health Campus and is expected to be transferred to Royal Perth Hospital where he will be treated in a dedicated isolation ward.

“I’m advised that all personnel involved in the retrieval wore full PPE.

“Only a small number of specialist staff are involved in the patient care. They continue to adhere to COVID-safe protocols at all times.”

Mr McGowan said the AquaGenie, which has more than 20 crew on-board, has been told it cannot dock.

“The health and wellbeing of the remaining crew on-board the AquaGenie continues to be monitored by the public health emergency operations centre,” Mr McGowan said.

“The captain of the ship has today reported all crew that remain on-board are well.

“We’ve advised the captain of the AquaGenie to remain in commonwealth waters – our expectation is the ship will leave.”