Covid-19: Mattina crewman to be discharged from hospital

Covid-19: Mattina crewman to be discharged from hospital
Uma Ahmed, Aug 02 2021 https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/125938203/covid19-mattina-crewman-to-be...

A crew member who tested positive for Covid-19 on the Mattina container ship is expected to be discharged from Southland Hospital on Monday.

In total, 16 crewmen on board the ship had tested positive with the Delta variant. Two were taken to Southland Hospital to be treated.

A statement released by the Ministry of Health says one is now well enough to be discharged but will require medical care for an unrelated condition.

His health will continue to be monitored and he will not return to the Mattina but will be placed in Southern District Health Board arranged accommodation.

The vessel first arrived in New Zealand on July 18 and was scheduled to leave the port to deliver imported goods to other ports across New Zealand on July 20.

It will be held back until its crew members are cleared by health officials.

Four mariners who had tested negative for Covid-19 are in a managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facility in Christchurch.

Plans were being made to transport another mariner to an MIQ facility in Christchurch, as he had serological evidence of a historical Covid-19 infection, the Ministry of Health said.

His transportation from the ship to the quarantine facility would be carried out using all infection, prevention and control procedures, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

He had originally stayed back on the ship to maintain basic functions of the vessel.

The captain of the Mattina tested negative for Covid-19 and remains in Southern DHB arranged accommodation.

A Ministry of Health spokesperson said every possible public health precaution was being taken to care for the mariners in a way that provided the healthcare they needed, and kept health workers, port workers and the community safe.