An offshore worker on a North Sea platform has been quarantined over concerns around the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The worker, on board Taqa’s Tern Alpha installation 105 miles north-east of Shetland, has presented “minor symptoms after returning recently from holiday in Thailand”.
Taqa said the individual is being “attended to by the medic on board” and is “remaining separated from the crew until the results of the tests are known”.
A helicopter crew change was due to arrive at the Tern today but it is understood that was diverted at the discretion of the helicopter operator.
Quarantine is a standard procedure on Taqa installations for outbreaks of other viral illnesses like flu.
A spokeswoman added that Taqa has now put travel restrictions in place to its offshore platforms by workers who have returned to countries hit by the virus, joining fellow operator Chrysaor who has also imposed similar restrictions.
In an email seen by Energy Voice, Chrysaor said workers returning from China’s Hubei Province cannot go offshore for 14 days and should go into self-imposed quarantine.
The operator also placed similar restrictions on anyone experiencing a cough or fever that has recently returned from Far East countries including China, Thailand, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, among others.
Chrysaor, the largest producer of oil and gas in the UK North Sea, said it was taking “prudent” steps to reduce the risk to its people and offshore installations.
Other firms, including BP and Halliburton, have issued company-wide policies preventing non-essential travel to China and the wider Asia-Pacific region respectively.
Oil services company Schlumberger has also put travel restrictions in place.
ALSO READ: Chrysaor and Taqa restrict North Sea travel in wake of coronavirus outbreak
A Taqa spokeswoman said: “A member of crew on board our Tern Alpha platform has presented with minor symptoms after returning recently from holiday in Thailand.
“The individual is being attended to by the medic on board the platform and as a precaution he is remaining separated from the rest of the crew until the results of tests are known.
“Both the individual and Taqa continue to take the appropriate actions and precautions in line with the UK Government guidelines.
“Taqa is working closely with the relevant authorities and has put in place travel restrictions to its offshore platforms by individuals who have travelled recently to countries identified by the UK Government.”
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