New South Wales Health is assessing a cargo ship off the coast of Newcastle with 11 COVID patients on board.
Testing carried out on the 21 crew members of the MV Spirit Ho-Ping found more than half had contracted the virus.
Only one person on the ship has been vaccinated.
The Spirit of Ho-Ping sailed from the Philippines on August 16 and has not docked in Australia.
Hunter New England Health is assessing medical care and public health requirements and liaising with the Port Authority of NSW, Australian Maritime Safety Authority, NSW Police, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Water and the Environment and others.
More to come.
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