Crew of Covid-stricken ship from India get medical aid

MANILA – Crew members of the MV Athens Bridge, a container ship with several Filipino personnel infected with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), have been given medical aid upon arriving at the Port of Manila.

In a Facebook post on Friday, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the maritime sector has aided the vessel’s crew of 21 Filipinos, 12 of whom tested positive for Covid-19.

Two members who are in critical condition have been brought to a medical facility while the rest of the crew are quarantined in the vessel and provided with medical supplies, such as oxygen tanks.

The vessel, which flies the flag of Panama, has secured clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) and the Department of Health on Thursday and was directed to its quarantine anchorage area by the port.

“Early evening of the same day, BOQ doctors boarded the vessel to assess the condition of the crew and recommended the immediate medical evacuation of two crew members in critical condition,” the DOTr said.

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The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has also provided security to ensure that no unauthorized vessels or bancas would approach the MV Athens Bridge.

“The national government, through the maritime sector of the DOTr, assures that the situation and the condition of the crew members will be consistently monitored. Health and safety protocols will also be prioritized throughout the entire process,” the DOTr said.

MV Athens Bridge was reported to have departed from India on April 22 and arrived in Haiphong, Vietnam on May 1 where the crew was administered reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests.

On Thursday, the PCG received a request from the ship’s captain for the medical evacuation of its two crew members who required urgent medical care.

The vessel was located 12 nautical miles west of Corregidor island at the time.