By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Transnet National Ports Authority has confirmed that 14 crew members of a vessel, the Eaubonne, which is currently docked at the Port of Durban after sailing from India, have tested positive for Covid-19.
This after the vessel’s chief engineer died due to a heart attack.
“Upon arrival at the Port of Durban, as a standard precautionary measure, all crew members were tested and 14 of the crew tested positive for Covid-19.”
“The entire vessel is currently in quarantine at the Port of Durban, as per Covid-19 regulations. As part of Covid-19 protocols, the crew contact tracking and tracing is being undertaken,” Transnet said in a statement.
The Filipino-crewed vessel docked in Durban on Sunday after a 17-day voyage from India and it is under lockdown. Port Health assigned a team to go on board and check on the crew members, according to Transnet.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is responsible for ensuring that all vessels calling at the port have been cleared by relevant state organs, namely Port Health, Migration, MRCC, and customs, before entering or leaving the Port.
Health Minister Dr Zweli Mkhize on Tuesday noted the concern around Covid-19 cases at South Africa’s ports of entry and the “possible recent importation of variants”.
On Monday,Netcare revealed that a person who travelled from India had tested positive for the Covid-19 virus in Durban.
However, health teams were still testing whether the person had been infected with the virus variant currently spreading in India.
India has surpassed the 20 million mark of confirmed Covid-19 cases. The country continues to be in the grips of a second wave of the pandemic.