COVID-19: Buhari Tests Negative, Kyari Positive, as Epidemic Hits Global Shipping
*42 Ill People on Board
*Unprecedented surge in cases of seafarers seeking help
President Muhammadu Buhari has tested negative to the coronavirus but his Chief of Staff, Mr. Abba Kyari, tested positive after a test carried out on the two by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
President was informed of the outcome of the result of the test Tuesday morning.
Kyari who had travelled to Germany on March 7 had few days after his return on March 14 submitted himself for test which result showed positive.
He was said to have gone into absolute isolation in view of the outcome of his test.
The National Assembly had Tuesday morning announced a break to check the effect of the plague.
The Senate said it will resume on April 7, while the House of Representatives did not say when members will resume session.
Meanwhile the epidemic has continued to hit a big blow to global shipping.
World Maritime News reported that a cruise ship operated by Holland America Line, with 42 ill people on board, is en route to Florida after being turned away by ports in Chile.
MS Zaandam, which is carrying 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members, reported that 13 of its passengers and 29 crew have influenza-like symptoms.
As informed, all ill persons have been isolated and their close contacts placed in quarantine.
“Since it is flu season, and COVID-19 testing is not available on board, it is difficult to determine the cause of these elevated cases at this time,” the cruise line said in a statement.
The remaining passengers have been asked to stay in their staterooms, with meals provided by room service. Additionally, the crew who are not required for the safe operation of the ship are being quarantined.
There has been a dramatic surge in the number of cases of seafarers seeking assistance in overcoming their circumstances onboard ships exacerbated by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Seafarers are being retained on vessels after sign-off, left ashore in foreign countries unable to return to their families without funds, and not having sufficient information being passed to them as port authorities ban crew change-overs and limit the movement of foreign nationals in their territories as they combat the spreading of the coronavirus.
The UK-based charity organization Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) said on Monday that despite the engagement of ICS, ITF, and Intermanager in addressing the matter, the flow of cases into the charity, particularly from Indian seafarers, has been unprecedented.
To remind, the ITF has called on governments to recognize the vital role of seafarers in this extraordinary crisis, and treat them as ‘key workers’, regardless of nationality.
“In just four hours, 24 cases came into the NGO from seafarers seeking to raise greater awareness of their circumstances,” HRAS said.
The seafarers are reporting an increasing trend of non-payment of wages, contract extensions without informed consent, crews being left in foreign states to pay hotel bills and to seek flights home using their own funds, reports World Maritime News.
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