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Crew from Stolt Sakura COVID ship docked off Fremantle discharged from hospital as two remain in ICU

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Sarah StegerThe West Australian
Stolt Sakura.
Camera IconStolt Sakura. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

Two more crew members from a COVID-riddled oil and chemical tanker docked off Fremantle have been transferred from hospital to hotel quarantine.

The MV Stolt Sakura has 12 positive crew, five of whom remain aboard the ship. Two are in intensive care at Fiona Stanley Hospital, with one in a serious and unstable condition. The other is also serious, however, his condition is stable.

Another two seafarers are being treated in the hospital’s respiratory ward and are stable.

Two of their crew mates were discharged from hospital to hotel quarantine yesterday after their conditions improved, joining one of their peers who was discharged earlier in the week.

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The Stolt Sakura arrived in Fremantle on Saturday after crew started reporting flu-like symptoms.

Some of the crew from the Stolt Sakura have been discharged from hospital.
Camera IconSome of the crew from the Stolt Sakura have been discharged from hospital. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Three crew from the oil and chemical tanker were disembarked from the ship and taken to hospital the day it arrived, with a further three — one of whom was in a wheelchair — removed and hospitalised hours later.

The positive cases that remain on board are expected to stay in isolation on the vessel unless their conditions worsen and they need to be transferred for medical treatment.

They are among 15 active COVID-19 cases in WA — seven of whom, including two crew members, are in hotel quarantine.

“WA Health will continue to work with the vessel and key maritime stakeholders regarding its ongoing management,” a statement from the WA Health Department said.

Stolt Sakura.
Camera IconStolt Sakura. Credit: Simon Santi/The West Australian

The State recorded no new cases of COVID-19 overnight, with the total remaining at 1110. To date, 1086 people have recovered from the virus in WA.

It comes after WA health authorities were able to breathe a sigh of relief after all 50 close and casual contacts of a COVID-19 infected diplomat tested negative to the virus.

The diplomat — a man in his 30s — travelled from Serbia to Perth via Dubai with his wife and young child, arriving on September 29.

The family were self-quarantining in a Northbridge apartment complex when the man tested positive. His four-year-old son has also since been infected.

They, as well as all close contacts, will remain in quarantine for 14 days and will be managed by WA Health public health officials.

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