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The first batch of 11 crew members onboard a bulk carrier that ported at Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province, were hospitalized for treatment with the help of authorities in Zhoushan.

The bulk carrier that set off from the Philippines on July 30 had recently sparked great concern as 13 crew members were having fever symptoms which forced the ship to strand in Zhoushan waters for help. A sailor on the cargo ship had sought for help by uploading a video asking for assistance on Saturday.

Zhoushan activated emergency rescue mission on Sunday and organized people to get on the ship to help. Nucleic acid tests showed 16 crew members who are Chinese nationals out of the 20 crew members tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday night. 

Zhoushan anti-epidemic team had transferred the first batch of 11 crew members to designated medical institute for medical treatment after accessing the safety of the ship mooring and the crew members' physical condition. 

The remaining sickened members will stay on the ship for treatment until crew management company changes their shifts, media reports said. 

The Grand Progress bulk carrier, a Panamanian vessel whose mother company is located in North China's Tianjin Municipality, is carrying a crew of 20. On July 2-14, it docked at a port in Indonesia, and arrived at a port in the Philippines on July 26,reads a statement released on Sunday by the Zhoushan health authorities.

The vessel left the Philippines on July 30 for Nantong, East China's Jiangsu Province, during which time 13 crew members developed symptoms of fever. Nantong denied the entry of the ship, leaving it isolated in the waters off Zhoushan, the statement said.