Coronavirus crisis: No further MV Emerald Indah crew fall sick as WA zero COVID-19 streak continues

No further crew on board the MV Emerald Indah have fallen sick overnight as authorities continue to monitor the vessel, which was the centre of WA’s latest coronavirus scare this week.

A crewman in his 50s who tested positive to COVID-19 after being removed from the bulk carrier on Sunday night remains in a stable condition at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

In an update this morning, the Department of Health said it continued to receive “twice daily temperature logs and health updates… as part of our ongoing risk assessment”.

A department spokesman clarified the remaining 21 crew on board had the MV Emerald Indah had not been swabbed for COVID-19.

Emergency directions signed by Police Commissioner Chris Dawson on Monday evening have prohibited the ship from berthing at Kwinana, where it was meant to collect 50,000 tonnes of wheat bound for Indonesia.

In a statement last night MSI Ship Management — which operates the vessel — said it was “awaiting clearance to load its scheduled cargo”.

However, Premier Mark McGowan has called on the ship to leave Australian waters immediately and MSI said it would “co-operate fully with the relevant State and federal authorities” and was “currently awaiting further instructions on how to proceed”.

The ship remains berthed directly west of Scarborough and WA Police said the Department of Health and Australian Maritime Authority were managing the situation.

“There have been no confirmed reports of illness on the vessel and AMSA is working with the Department of Health to risk assess the health status to permit the vessel to set sail,” a police spokesman said.

A spokeswoman from Mr McGowan said the priority was to return the ship to its port of origin in Indonesia “so it can be deep cleaned and allow for a crew changeover”.

“This is important for the health and safety of the crew and to ensure there is no risk to Western Australians,” she said.

No new cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed in WA overnight with all of the close and casual contacts linked to the six-person northern suburbs cluster so far testing negative.

There were 12,680 vaccinations administered yesterday while 5727 West Australians presented for testing.