Rms-Fraternity

All infections from the 'BBC California' have been confirmed as the Delta variant of COVID-19 through genomic sequencing by Western Australia Health, on July 25. Reportedly the vessel has currently eight infected crew on board and another case in hotel quarantine.

Two more crew members from the 'BBC California' have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of people infected on board to 10. All crew members have been tested and will remain on the ship isolated in their rooms until further notice. The ship had 14 crew members aboard and remained berthed at Fremantle Port for now. It was originally scheduled to berth at Kwinana where it was to be loaded with ammonium nitrate, before heading to the port of Newcastle, in New South Wales. The state government was considering taking the four healthy crew members off the BBC California and placing them in hotel quarantine, to protect them and allow for the 10 remaining crew members to continue operating the ship.

On July 20, three crew members of the 'BBC California' who have returned negative results, have been transferred to hotel quarantine. The fourth crew member with a negative result will remain on board because of a critical need for an engineer to be present on the vessel. Protective measures wwere in place and he will remain isolated in a cabin on a separate deck to everyone else and will use PPE when on deck and in the engine room.