Eight more crew members of a bulk carrier anchored off Port Hedland in Western Australia have tested positive to COVID-19, taking the total number of cases from the ship to 17.
The eight new cases are all in quarantine at the Hedland Hotel, along with two others who had already been confirmed as testing positive.
The remaining seven positive cases are still onboard the ship as part of the essential crew. Four others have so far returned negative tests.
Twenty Filipino nationals and the captain were on board the Patricia Oldendorff when the ship anchored nine nautical miles off the coast on 16 September.
"All crew members are in good spirits and have been able to contact family at home," WA's Department of Health said in a statement on Monday.
"Crew also have been provided access to culturally appropriate food by a Filipino chef."
A replacement crew is in hotel quarantine in Perth and may be flown to Port Hedland so that the remaining skeleton crew can be brought onshore.
WA Health's rapid response team is managing the outbreak, while security personnel have been flown in to help local police oversee the hotel quarantine.
"The Department of Health, together with the WA Country Health Service, would like to reassure the Port Hedland community that every safety measure is being put in place to protect the local community," the statement said.
"The safety of the maritime workers, emergency services and transport staff, hotel staff and the local community continues to be our number one priority."
WA's official figures, updated prior to the new ship cases being reported, had the state's total at 676 cases with 14 active cases being monitored.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your jurisdiction's restrictions on gathering limits.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
Please check the relevant guidelines for your state or territory: NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Northern Territory, ACT, Tasmania
