COVID-19 Perth Update: 6 Livestock Ship Crew Test Positive For COVID-19

“Extremely concerning” COVID-19 outbreak announced in WA after infection detected on live export ship.

COVID-19 Perth Update: 6 Livestock Ship Crew Test Positive For COVID-19

“Extremely concerning” COVID-19 outbreak announced in WA after infection detected on live export ship.
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“Extremely concerning” COVID-19 outbreak announced in WA after infection detected on live export ship.

Mark McGowan has announced a “fast-evolving” COVID-19 situation after six crew members on a live export ship in Fremantle tested positive for the virus. 

The Premier addressed the press this afternoon and announced while he’d hoped he’d be able to announce another day of zero COVID-19 cases, he had “some serious news to outline”.

“There is currently a situation evolving as we speak at Fremantle Port, it’s regarding a live export ship, the Al Kuwait that docked at Fremantle Port last Friday, 22 May,” he said.

“This morning, seven crew members were tested for COVID-19. Six have tested positive, all males, and are being moved off the ship to a Perth hotel for quarantine purposes.”

Mr McGowan said it was “more than likely” more crew members would turn out to become infected with the virus. 

“This is an extremely concerning situation that we find ourselves in,” he said.

“I thought these kinds of situations were behind us.”

Delayed report of infection

Mr McGowan revealed the news of the sick crew members had only been found out by the Fremantle Port Authority “by word of mouth”.

““On 22 May, the ship provided an updated report to Australian Border Force which included one crew with a high temperature and three showing similar symptoms in the last 15 days and this was when the final clearance was provided by the Commonwealth for the ship to berth,” he said.

“At this point, the Fremantle Port Authority was not made aware of the health concerns. A Fremantle Port worker, wearing PPE, went onboard the ship on the 22nd to help steer her into a berth at the port as per the usual process… It wasn’t until Sunday evening that the Fremantle Port Authority learnt of some health issues on the ship. This came by word of mouth from another worker at the port.

“The Police Commissioner has reached out to the Australian Border Force Commissioner and the federal Department of Agriculture to try to get an understanding as to why the ship was allowed to be berthed at our port.”

Infection proof it is not time to ease interstate border closures  

The outbreak today was proof why WA needed to keep its hard border restrictions in place, Mr McGowan said.

“It goes to show that strong border controls are important as we continue to handle this worldwide health crisis,” he said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was essential the border closure stayed in place, despite pressure from other State premiers.

“This is another reason why our hard border must stay for now, it is working to our advantage,” he said.

“We are not seeing community transmission, we can trace nearly every case back to its source. Our Chief Health Officer, whose advice has helped us successfully squash the COVID-19 curve, continues to recommend the hard border stays in place.”

It comes as the country’s deputy chief medical officer Professor Paul Kelly said there was “no medical reason” for the border closures to remain.

State of emergency remains

Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said there was a “very good reason” WA remained in a state of emergency, as this outbreak demonstrated. 

“The fact that we’ve had 10 positive COVID-19 cases in the last two days further demonstrates that we are not immune,” he said.

“We are not immune from COVID-19 in Western Australia. There’s a very good reason why we have emergency management laws in place and that is because the six crew members would have otherwise come ashore are now in quarantine.”

Commissioner Dawson said remaining “vigilant” through this time was critical.

The remaining 42 crew members will remain on board the ship and will be monitored and undergo health assessments.

Watch: WA Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19 on board a livestock ship currently docked at Fremantle Port.

Mark McGowan with an important COVID-19 announcement

#BREAKING: WA Premier Mark McGowan has confirmed an outbreak of COVID-19 on board a livestock ship currently docked at Fremantle Port. DETAILS | https://ab.co/2M4v9AF#LIVE: Important COVID-19 announcement from WA Premier Mark McGowan, Health Minister Roger Cook and Police Commissioner Chris Dawson.

Posted by ABC Perth on Monday, 25 May 2020

More Perth coronavirus coverage on SoPerth.com.au.