Fremantle vessel has 20 COVID-positive crew

Twenty of the 22 crew members on board a cargo ship docked at Fremantle Port have tested positive for COVID-19 overnight.

During a press conference this afternoon, Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the latest cases and said Western Australian health authorities were managing those on board the Ken Hou.

Mr McGowan said the state’s preference was to manage the crew members on board the ship, but that was dependent on health advice and whether the crew could safely isolate on board.

The cargo ship was scheduled to arrive in Albany on Saturday, until several of its crew members reported feeling ill.

It is understood the ship was last in Thailand and South Korea.

The ship is the fifth international vessel to arrive in WA waters with COVID-positive crew members in the past month.

Meanwhile, the state government has announced the appointment of state emergency coordinator, police commissioner Chris Dawson, to the role of vaccine commander.

In the new role, Mr Dawson will be tasked with leading the COVID-19 vaccine program until the end of the year.

With just 47 per cent of those eligible having had their first dose of the vaccine, Mr McGowan said the state needed to increase the vaccination rate as soon as possible, particularly in remote Indigenous communities.

More to come.