Crew member onboard ship docked near Hastings tested for coronavirus

A sick crew member onboard a cargo ship docked in Victoria has been tested for novel coronavirus.

The Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to 9News the crew member from a ship that arrived at Western Port near Hastings was in hospital with a "mild illness".

But the department said the tests were only precautionary, as the risk of the crew member contracting the deadly virus was "low".

The staff member did not disembark in China or set foot on China's mainland 14 days before their illness.

Test results are expected later today.