A cargo ship docks at the international container terminal in Zhoushan Port, East China's Zhejiang Province. Photo: cnsphoto

A Panamanian-flagged vessel that arrived at a transit terminal in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang Province, on Sunday reported four crew members had tested positive for COVID-19 and five showed positive antibody tests, the local health department said on Tuesday.

After receiving a request from shipping agency, Zhoushan allowed the temporary entry of these crew members in line with international humanitarian aid, the department said in a press release on its public WeChat account.

It said the four crew members have already been sent to a designated hospital for treatment, while the other five are under medical observation. 

The remaining 10 crew members remain on board for observation and close contacts are in quarantine and under observation. The vessel has been disinfected.

The vessel, the Bunun Glory, departed from the port of Kanda, Japan on July 23. There are 19 crew members on the vessel, 14 of whom are Chinese nationals, three are Vietnamese and two are Bangladeshi.

"Currently, the situation of the nine crew members that got off the vessel is stable, with four diagnosed as asymptomatic cases. The situation of the 10 crew on the vessel is normal," the health department said.

It said the city would continue to properly handle the situation according to relevant laws and regulations.