The Center for Disease Control (CDC) of Binh Thuan has sought directions from the provincial Department of Health for the reception of three sailors sickened with COVID-19 from a collier docked off the south-central Vietnamese province.

The three crew members in question on FAREAST HONESTY, a bulk carrier registered in Hong Kong, have exhibited symptoms of cough, fever and fatigue, according to the CDC.

The ship departed from Indonesia on July 8 to carry 55,000 metric tons of coal to the Vinh Tan 4 thermal power plant in Binh Thuan.

It arrived at the Vietnamese province’s Vinh Tan Port in Tuy Phong District on July 12.

Three of its sailors were first diagnosed with the coronavirus on July 13 after performing COVID-19 tests required for all arrivals.

The CDC then forced the owner of the 21-member collier to return the ship to its departure location and replace new sailors as per the regulations.

But the owner asked for another solution as traveling back and forth would cause many difficulties. 

The center has thus requested for the provincial health department’s permission to bring the crew members infected with COVID-19 ashore for treatment at the Medical Center of Tuy Phong District.

Functional forces will also spray disinfectant on the ship and implement other pandemic prevention measures according to regulations.

The Ministry of Health confirmed 2,105 local coronavirus infections, including 1,769 in Ho Chi Minh City, taking the national tally to 46,292 patients on Saturday morning.

The new infections raised the southern city’s caseload to 25,682 -- the highest number compared to all other localities in the ongoing infection wave that erupted in Vietnam on April 27, while Binh Thuan has documented 45 patients.

Recoveries have risen to 10,020 while the death toll has reached 225.

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