The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is now strictly monitoring two vessels from Indonesia after 12 of its crew members tested positive for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
PCG Commandant Admiral George Ursabia Jr. said the owing vessel MT Clyde and barge Claudia arrived from Indonesia on July 14 and docked at the Butuan Port in Agusan del Norte where they were subjected to Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests for COVID-19.
But Ursabia said the vessels were already on their way to a port in Albay when they were informed that 12 of the crew members tested positive.
It was found out that one of those who tested positive disembarked at the Butuan port, leaving 11 COVID-positive crew members on board.
Ursabia said the the captain of the vessel assured personnel of PCG Station Albay that they will not disembark their vessels without proper authority. The vessels will arrive in Lidong Port, Sto. Domingo, Albay on Tuesday, July 20.
“As of today, July 19, the PCG Station Albay is continuously monitoring the status of said vessels to ensure that they will not deviate route and will not disembark crew members without proper authority,” the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Ursabia Jr. directed all Coast Guard units to “step up monitoring all vessels” with crew members or passengers, who may be carriers of Delta variant of COVID-19, most especially from borders near Indonesia and Malaysia in the southern part of the Philippines.
“In compliance with said directive, PCG Station Albay is preparing its course of action and coordinating with the Bicol IATF and concerned government agencies to ensure that appropriate measures are in place prior the arrival of subject vessels tomorrow,” the Coast Guard added.