A team of doctors is being helicoptered to a ship off the coast of Napier to do Covid swab tests.
The Ken Rei off the coast of Napier. Photo: RNZ / Tom Kitchin
One of the Auckland port workers who has tested positive for the virus worked on the Ken Rei in the past fortnight.
That led Napier Port to refuse entry to the vessel and request it remain offshore for a 14-day isolation period.
Now the ship's charter company has contracted doctors from a Napier medical centre to collect swabs from the crew.
Hawke's Bay DHB said preparation for the flight and safety protocols had been worked out over the last two days.
The DHB says that weather permitting, a helicopter will fly out to the ship today.