COVID-19 infected Patricia Oldendorff crew member to be flown to Perth for quarantine

A special charter flight will transfer three crew members from a COVID-19-infected cargo ship that is preparing to leave WA waters. Premier Mark McGowan announced this morning the Patricia Oldendorff is expected to sail from Port Hedland’s coast as early as tomorrow following a deep-clean of the vessel. One of the crew members being transfer on the charter flight is infected with the potentially-deadly virus. All three will be transferred to a government managed quarantine facility in Perth, according to a Department of Health spokeswoman. “The Patricia Oldendorff, we are expecting she will sail tomorrow,” Mr McGowan said. “Eighteen of the crew have recovered and we expect they will be onboard to sail the ship away. “Three of the crew members we expect will remain here, be transferred by charter to Perth, put into quarantine and then the company will be responsible for repatriating those people following that process.” The ship has been anchored eight nautical miles off the North West coast since September 16, after 17 of the 21 Filipino crew members tested positive for the virus. WA recorded two new coronavirus cases over night, after a pair of returned international travellers tested positive. They have since been placed into hotel quarantine.