Chinese-manned mining vessel anchored at Nasipit, Agusan del Norte has been cleared of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) after being subjected to quarantine on Sunday, February 09.
According to a PhilStar report, Chinese cargo vessel M/V Jin Shui arrived at the Nasipit International Seaport on Friday, February 07. The vessel had been subjected to a 14-day quarantine period and was instructed to remain anchored off the seaport while waiting for the clearance from the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).
“M/V Jin Shui came primarily to go to Tubay, Agusan del Norte for the loading of nickel ore from Agata Mining,” Philippine Port Authority (PPA) Manager of the Port Management Office of Agusan del Norte Mildred Padilla was quoted as saying in a Philippine News Agency (PNA) report.
Thus, Padilla updated in the PNA report that the vessel had sailed towards Tubay loading point in Tubay, Agusan del Norte on Saturday, February 15, after the BOQ cleared its crew of the COVID-19 symptoms.
“The boarding team found out that the crew members did not show any manifestation of symptoms of COVID-19 so they were allowed to sail to Tubay loading point on February 15,” Padilla stated.
In addition, she expressed that the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the Bureau of Immigration (BI) had also issued clearances to the chinese vessel and its crew to proceed to its destination.
In accordance with existing guidelines, mining vessels, such as the M/V Jin Shui, are immediately boarded by a multi-agency task force, led by the BOQ, upon their arrival. Crew members are, again, checked a day after the 14-day mandatory quarantine to determine if they manifest the symptoms of the viral disease.
Moreover, Padilla expressed in the reports that mining vessels, such as the mentioned, are not required to dock again at the port as they are “involved in anchorage operation.”
Despite the circumstance, Padilla said that the Port of Nasipit continues to implement its monitoring activities on COVID-19, especially among passengers coming into the province.
In coordination with the Rural Health Unit (RHU), the monitoring is done using non-contact thermometers.
Information, education, and communication materials are also flashed regularly in television sets and passenger terminal of Nasipit port to inform and educate the public on how to protect themselves from the virus.
