Four crew members have been transported to a managed isolation facility in Christchurch, while the ship’s captain, who needs to remain close to the ship, has been transferred to accommodation provided by the Southern DHB.
A Ministry of Health spokesman said crewmen who recovered from Covid-19 would remain on the ship as the size of the vessel required a minimum crew on board.
The five mariners isolating on shore would be returned to the ship when their period of isolation was completed, and the ship would depart once it had undergone a deep clean, the spokesman said.
Two of the first crew members to test positive were taken to Southland Hospital for assessment on July 21, but did not need to be admitted, and were returned to the ship later that day.