SYDNEY, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Another 24 COVID-19 positive crew members have been diagnosed aboard a livestock carrier docked at Fremantle Port in the state of Western Australia (WA), local authorities confirmed on Monday.
So far 25 crew members have tested positive for the virus and more cases could be reported in the coming days, given there are still 52 crew members on board, the state's Premier Mark McGowan said.
WA's Health Minister Roger Cook said the infected crew will be moved from the ship to hotel quarantine in the next 24 hours before a deep cleaning for the livestock carrier can be started.
McGowan said the issue needs to be addressed at the federal government level.
"It is becoming clear that ships arriving with COVID-19 on board is one of the weakest links and the biggest risk to our way of life in Western Australia," McGowan said.
"This is why we are demanding the Commonwealth government step up and work with other jurisdictions on the issue."
"We need a coordinated, international approach to this and we need our federal government to take international action."
WA reported no new COVID-19 case overnight, with 24 positive results from the ship to be included in Tuesday's statistics for the state. Enditem