Infected crew of COVID-hit ship from India to be tested for virus variant — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Samples from crew members of a cargo ship from India who tested positive for COVID-19 will undergo genome sequencing to find out if they are carrying the B.1.671 variant of the virus that was first detected in India, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

Initial reports reaching the DOH said the MV Athens Bridge that docked in Manila on Thursday has 21 Filipinos as crew members. Of the ship’s crew, 12 were found positive for the virus, including two who have severe COVID-19 and were already rushed to a hospital.

The 10 other crew members who have mild COVID-19 and the 10 others who are not positive of the virus are currently undergoing quarantine at the vessel, where authorities have provided medical supplies and oxygen tanks.

COVID-19 infected crew members of the MV Athens Bridge being rushed to a hospital. /Photo from MARINA

However, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) later decided to transfer all the crew members to a quarantine facility since the vessel lacks the space needed for isolation.

“Nagdesisyon na po ang BOQ that we will transfer those identified to be positive sa isang quarantine facility here in Manila and also ‘yung mga na-expose na crew members, ika-quarantine na rin natin,” she said in an online press briefing.

(The BOC has decided to transfer those found positive to a quarantine facility here in Manila, and also the crew members who were exposed will also undergo quarantine.)

“Lahat sila ay itetest. Lahat sila na magpapositive doon sa itetest natin na second dito sa mga naiwan sa barko ay magwhowhole genome sequence tayo,” she added.

(All of them will be tested. All of them who will turn out to be positive among those left in the vessel will undergo genome sequencing.)

Vergeire said samples from the two patients suffering from severe COVID-19 were also taken for genome sequencing.

According to the Maritime Industry Authority, the ship left India on April 22 and arrived in Haiphong, Vietnam, on May 1, where the 12 COVID-19 positive cases were detected.

/MUF