14 Crew Members Tests COVID Positive In Paradip Port

Trouble is brewing along the Paradip Port as 14 crew members of the Vessel MV APJ Kais have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The matter came into the limelight after the ship’s captain informed the Paradeep Port authorities that some of the crew members had fever and cold.

Patients Hospitalised

The 56000-ton coal-carrying ship arrived in Paradip from Tuticorin back on March 27. The captain informed the authorities as soon as they arrived.

The Paradip Port Trust authorities didn’t waste any time and tested all the 28 crew members of the ship. 14 of them were found COVID positive and shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar.

Representation Image – Credits: OdishaLive

All the rest have been asked to remain in isolation on board the ship for at least 7 days. According to Rajendra Narayan Panigrahi, a Paradip Port Health Officer, all the hospitalised crew are asymptomatic and there’s no need for panic and fear as all preventive measures are in place.

The ship has been sanitized following all COVID protocols, he said, “Around 2,400 crew of various vessels have been screened and 1,000 ships inspected by the health team in the last one year”, he added.

Paradip’s COVID Protocol

Speaking about the port’s COVID protocol, Dr Panigrahi said, “A help desk has been set up at Paradip to detect members of other ship crews who might have the infection. Healthcare assistants will screen crew members of every ship on arrival”.

“Sanitisation inside prohibited areas, social distancing, thermal scanning, hand sanitisation, use of masks inside prohibited areas and offices have been strictly enforced. All precautions are being taken and people should not fall prey to rumours and panic,” he added further.

Reference: newindianexpress.com

Source: Maritime Shipping News