Crew of Shipping Corporation of India ship at Chennai port tests positive

According to the port health officer, the patient is a crew member of ‘MT Desh Abhimaan’ with the Indian flag. The ship, with 26 Indian crew, started its journey with from Basra, Iraq on April 23 and reached here with crude oil on May 3 and had been waiting for berthing after anchorage.

While all crew were tested for COVID on daily basis and were in good health, the particular patient had been in the ship since November last and had aggravation of pain in the right upper abdomen. His medical condition was reported to the CMO, Chennai port for possible treatment on May 12.

The crew member did a COVID test at ICMR-authorised lab on Wednesday and was found positive. He was then shifted to the COVID Care Hospital at Nandambakkam.

After that, the close first line of contact was listed for further medical follow-up. The shipmaster was asked to do disinfection of the ship and collect further history and source of illness, besides details of other 25 crew and their possible close contacts are being sought.