Seven more crew members from a bulk carrier anchored off the Western Australian coast near Port Hedland have tested positive for COVID-19.
A total of nine crew from the Patricia Oldendorff have now tested positive to the virus, WA Health Minister Roger Cook confirmed, following testing overnight.
The ship, with 20 Filipino crew on board, anchored off Port Hedland in WA’s North West on September 16.
Initially, two crew members tested positive to COVID-19 and were taken to a local hotel for quarantine, along with 10 other crew members.
A skeleton crew of nine people remained on board to keep the ship operating.
Mr Cook said of those nine, seven had now tested positive to COVID-19.
He said while it was not ideal, they would remain on board to help manage the ship.
None of the nine positive crew members currently require hospitalisation.
