Individuals in Contact with Foreign Vessel Tested Negative for COVID-19

Initial COVID-19 test results of all the individuals who came into contact with a foreign vessel in Honiara earlier this month have returned negative.

The individuals engaged in offloading cargoes on the foreign vessel, MV Papamau in Honiara on the 15th of this month.

The vessel arrived in Honiara on 14th July with all crews tested negative for COVID-19.

The Vessel Exemption Committee assessed the vessel and allowed inward clearance after four and a half days quarantine at sea.

It left Honiara for Nauru on the 15th of this months where 13 of its 14 crew members were tested positive for the virus while in Nauru

In a special address last night, Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana says, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services immediately conducted a comprehensive risk assessment for all boarding parties upon receiving the information.

This includes customs, health, immigration and bio-security officers, ship agents and captains.

“All individuals identified in the boarding operation to clear the ship and offloading of the cargoes have been contacted and moved to quarantine with swabs collected and COVID-19 tests being conducted at the National Referral Hospital Molecular Laboratory yesterday.

I have the test results with me and therefore I would like to inform that the results of all the people who went on board the ship have been negative. The swabbing is being done for all ports staffs who are on duty at the time when the ship is in Honiara,” Minister Togamana says.

The Health Minister says all the individuals are currently under quarantine and will be released after having the required number of negative tests.

He adds all the individuals observed all infection prevention and control measures and are fully vaccinated.

ENDS///