Kolkata, Feb 13 (IANS): A ship coming from Shanghai was quarantined for a few hours on Wednesday at Sagar island, about 150 km from Kolkata, in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, before the 19-member crew was allowed to enter the Kolkata Port in view of the coronavirus scare, an official said.

"The captain of the ship, Zhou Yingde, and 18 other members of the crew were quarantined at Sagar island where the doctors examined them. The ship was later allowed to enter the Kolkata port," he said.

The crew would be further screened in the port and undergo thermal scanning -- a non-invasive, no radiation procedure that detects, records and produces a careful analysis of skin surface temperature patterns as a reflection of normal or abnormal human physiology.

The clearance for the crew to set foot on the eastern metropolis would be given on Thursday, only after their condition is found to be normal.

Following a Union Shipping Ministry directive, the Kolkata Port Trust has made it mandatory for crew of vessels using the port, especially those from China, to undergo screening.

A health camp has been opened at the port, where ambulances and other necessary equipment have been kept ready.