Coronavirus: Murrumbidgee health district confirms no cruise ship passengers transported to Wagga
The local health district has released a statement about whether a bus transporting up to 20 people from a Sydney-docked cruise ship travelled to Wagga.
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The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has confirmed that a bus did not transport people from a Sydney-docked cruise ship into Wagga.
Yesterday at a media conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Riverina MP Michael McCormack said he was notified that people from a cruise ship had reportedly arrived in Wagga.
Mr McCormack said he notified the health district. It was not clear which cruise ship he was referring to.
“They have been in touch with the bus company to ensure that those people were given instructions when they boarded the bus before they were dropped off to ensure they were self-isolating” he said.
“That is being followed up — I know that as a fact.
“If they are in fact somebody who’s stepped off a boat, somebody whose stepped off a plane, then self-isolate.
“Don’t leave home, it’s pretty simple.”
However, a health district spokesperson said: “We have followed up on the information provided to us about the Wagga Wagga bus. The coach company confirmed they did not transport people to Wagga.
“The information about a bus of people returning to Wagga was incorrect.
Later this morning, health district chief executive Jill Ludford will address the media in relation to the matter and provide an update about COVID-19 in the district.
Yesterday, Australian Border Force head Michael Outram slammed NSW Health over the Ruby Princess debacle, in which 2700 passengers were allowed to get off the coronavirus-carrying cruise ship in Sydney last week.
NSW Health on Tuesday said 133 passengers across the country had since tested positive for COVID-19 — including a woman in her 70s who died in hospital.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District tally of confirmed cases rose by three to 13 as of 8pm yesterday.
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