Chinese ship crew test negative for COVID-19

The cargo ship, M V Magnate, with 19 Chinese crew had arrived at the city port on February 18. Two crew members with symptoms of mild fever were tested for COVID-19 and the results were found to be negative.

All the passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and South Korea are subjected to thermal screening. Till date, 52,671 passengers have been screened at Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore airports. Health department officials said that 2,324 passengers are placed under home quarantine for 28 days – Chennai has the highest number of about 610 passengers, 217 in Ramanathapuram.

“The health of the passengers under observation at home are stable. A total of 48 samples have been taken from the passengers at airports and Chennai port, and sent for testing at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine and Research, Guindy, and the National Institute of Virology, Pune. The samples of all 48 passengers were processed and returned negative for coronavirus infection,” said public health director Dr K Kolandaswamy.

Officials added that though there are no positive cases, the zero positive cases status has to be maintained and the public should adhere to the health advisories issued by thegovernment.