Australia sends troops to help contain virus on ore ship near Port Hedland

By Paulina Duran and Melanie Burton | Reuters

Australian defence personnel are being deployed to Port Hedland, one of the world’s largest iron ore loading ports, to help contain a coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier that last changed crews in the major seafaring city of Manila.

Seventeen of the 21 crew of the carrier have tested positive for the virus, ship owner Oldendorff Carriers said in a statement.

Ten of the infected crew members have been moved to hotel quarantine, and seven remain on board as part of a nine-person crew, authorities said.

Oldendorff said the crew change on Sept. 5 in Manila complied with all protocols.

“All crew members tested negative for the virus before leaving the Philippines,” Oldendorff said…Full Story