Australia sends troops to help contain coronavirus on cargo ship

Australian soldiers are being deployed to Port Hedland, one of the world’s largest iron ore loading ports, to help contain a coronavirus outbreak on a bulk carrier that last changed crews in the seafaring city of Manila. Seventeen of the 21-crew members on the ship have tested positive for the virus, ship owner Oldendorff Carriers said in a statement. Ten of those confirmed with the virus have been moved to hotel quarantine while seven remain on board as part of an 11-person crew, authorities said. Oldendorff said that the Manila crew change on September 5 complied with all protocols. The statement neither mentioned the nationalities of the crew members with the virus, nor how many of the vessel’s staff are from the Philippines. “All crew members tested negative for the virus before leaving the Philippines,” Oldendorff said. The ship, which was scheduled to collect manganese ore which is used in steel production, is anchored off Port Hedland on the coast of Western Australia. style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;">