Victorian woman Alice Burns was on the cruise ship for seven days, before disembarking on Sunday in Brisbane.
Burns said passengers were aware that COVID-19 had been spreading for days, but on Sunday they were informed that both staff and passengers had tested positive.
Alice Burns (left) photographed before embarking on a seven-day cruise on the Coral Princess. (Provided by: Alice Burns)
Disembarking from Brisbane on Sunday, the cruise continued its journey, traveling along the coast to Sydney yesterday.
Burns said she was disappointed because cruise operators decided not to stop the cruise on Sunday when it became apparent that the COVID-19 outbreak had spread.
“They definitely knew they were at the start of an outbreak and that they shouldn’t have reloaded the boat when we got off,” he said.
“They knew this ship was sinking, my God, so they knew.”
NSW Deputy Director of Health, Dr Jeremy McAnulty, said just over 100 crew and four passengers were now infected on the ship.
It is the first coronavirus outbreak for the local cruise industry since it resumed travel after a two-year forced hiatus.
The Coral Princess is a sister ship of the Ruby Princess, which was linked to 28 deaths after passengers became infected with coronavirus in 2020.
There are now about 100 crew and four passengers infected with COVID-19 on board the ship. (Provided by: Alice Burns)
The Coral Princess operator yesterday offered refunds to more than 2,000 passengers before sailing from Brisbane to Sydney, but it is understood that most rejected them and stayed on board.
Carnival Cruises said all COVID-19 health protocols were being followed.
“The cases identified are overwhelmingly among the crew who were isolated on board according to protocols that have effectively supported the resumption of cruises in Australia since May,” a spokesman said.
“According to the protocols, the entire crew must be fully vaccinated and we also perform periodic surveillance tests of the entire crew.
“Some recorded positive tests in a recent full review and were isolated and have no contact with guests.
“These crew members are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms.”
NSW Health today introduced a new rule for the ship, saying passengers will only be able to disembark at scheduled destinations, which includes the city of Eden on the south coast of NSW, if they pass a rapid antigen test.
“Crew members will not be able to leave,” Prime Minister Dominic Perrottet said.
“Facial masks will be required in the configuration for passengers on this ship.”
According to health regulations, all Coral Princess passengers had to test negative on a rapid antigen test and declare a negative result before initially boarding the ship.
However, Burns said passengers were not asked to show any evidence of their negative evidence.
“They took the word out of everyone who didn’t have COVID, you just have to tick one box and you’re fine,” he said.
“They didn’t take your temperature either when you got on the boat.”
The Coral Princess cruiser is battling a COVID-19 outbreak. (Today)
Four days after the cruise, Burns said he felt some people on board had tested positive and were confined to his rooms.
“There was a room in our apartment. They had COVID and therefore they were locked in their room and the staff had put a stool on the door just to remind everyone to stay away or to make sure no one was there. accidentally entered “. she said.
Burns said it was clear that efforts had been made to minimize the risk of infections on board, especially when it came to the buffet, but more measures could have been taken.
“There was actually a washing station where you had to soap yourself and wash your hands,” he said.
“They had someone in control of it and they couldn’t get in unless you had a mask.
“Once you grab the food, you sit at the table and take off your mask and then, when you’re walking in there, you put the mask back on, so you were masked the whole time, except when they were eating. and drinking in or out. “
Burns said he was surprised, however, that there were no glass covers at the front of the buffet and that passengers could be served food.
“I was thinking they would have a glass up front and they would have staff serving passengers, but it was still open in the dining area,” he said.
McAnulty said passengers should be aware of the risks if they go on a cruise and suggested it was inevitable that there would be outbreaks.
“We know there will be cases of COVID and flu on ships,” he said.
He said there are protocols in place on ships such as testing, treatment and isolation.
He said there are signs that include red, amber and green that are used to indicate cases on cruises.
The Coral Princess is now classified as “amber”.
More than 100 passengers and staff aboard the Coral Princess cruise tested positive for COVID-19. (new)
The ship will arrive in Sydney tomorrow, but could not say whether the passengers would be tested before disembarking.
He said the incubation period could mean that rapid tests did not detect cases before.
All passengers must carry a RAT – and be vaccinated – to travel, but do not have to prove it, other than fill out an online statement.
“It’s not surprising, I guess it’s part of the information we all need to know, it’s not a secure system,” McAnulty said.
McAnulty was asked to respond to calls from the answering radio saying the ship should not be allowed to dock.
He said there was already an “increase” of cases in the community, so there was no reason for that measure.
“COVID is here. We have to live with COVID. People chose to go cruising, there are many places where COVID is located, cruises are just one of them,” he said.
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