The crew aboard MT Clyde, a towing vessel and Claudia, a barge, are in good condition and are not showing symptoms of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said on Wednesday.
In an update, the PCG said both vessels, currently under quarantine after 11 of its 19 crew aboard have tested positive for Covid-19, are set to undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests administered by the Department of Health (DOH) and the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
“Ayon kay Capt. Francisco Vargas, ang master ng MT Clyde, nananatiling normal ang body temperature at malakas ang pangangatawan ng kanyang mga kasamahan (According to Capt. Vargas, the master of MT Clyde, his colleagues all have maintained normal body temperatures and are in good health),” the PCG said.
While awaiting the results of their tests, it said both vessels will remain in quarantine and will be monitored by the PCG.
In the meantime, it said all goods and services needed by both vessels will continue to be provided by the PCG, the Office of Civil Defense-Region 5, Bicol IATF, BOQ, the local government of Sto. Domingo, Albay, the Police Provincial Office Albay, and the Sto. Domingo Municipal Police Station.
On Tuesday, MT Clyde and Claudia were ordered to anchor one kilometer off Lidong Port in Sto. Domingo while the PCG ensures their safety and prevent possible transmission of Covid-19.
On Sunday, MT Clyde was towing Claudia with 8,000 metric tons of steam coal en route to Albay from Butuan City, Agusan del Norte when they were informed that 12 of their crew tested positive for Covid-19 after a recent trip from Indonesia.
One of their crew who tested positive has disembarked in Butuan City prior to the result of their initial RT-PCR test while the rest of the crew were successfully quarantined inside their vessels.
Source: Philippines News Agency
