Testing of the crew of a container ship, the Rio De La Plata currently at sea off the coast of Tauranga, has confirmed 11 of the 21 crew on board are positive for COVID-19.
It’s likely that at least some of the eleven crew are active cases of COVID-19 and further test results, expected today, will help determine how many of the crew are likely to be historical cases and no longer infectious.
Public Health staff took the test swabs in Tauranga from the crew as part of the requirements for entry for the vessel to Napier - its next stop.
All of the crew on board are reported to be well, with none reporting any symptoms. No crew members came Port-side while the ship was being unloaded in Tauranga.