‘A lot has changed’: Covid-19 infected cruise ship sails on down WA coast

A cruise ship with about 2000 people on-board is continuing to sail through Australian waters and will disembark in WA, despite a Covid-19 outbreak.

It is understood up to 100 people among the 2000 on-board may be infected with the virus. Picture: Floss Adams

Western Australia’s tourism minister has played down fears about a Covid-19 outbreak on-board the Coral Princess cruise ship, saying there is no “unnecessary risk” to people onshore.

It is understood up to 100 people among the 2000 on-board may be infected with the virus as the vessel makes its way down the coast from Broome to Geraldton. It departed Sydney on October 11.

“I don’t believe it represents an unnecessary risk to people onshore and we will obviously benefit from having them come to WA to spend their tourism dollars,” Mr Cook told reporters on Tuesday.

He denied it was a case of history repeating itself following the infamous Ruby Princess outbreak in 2020 off Sydney and the subsequent ship outbreaks off the WA coast.

“A lot has changed. We have a highly vaccinated population, we have a better understanding of the disease, we have strict protocols in place, all of which have been observed by the crew on the Coral Princess,” he said.

“Anyone who leaves the cruise ship has to have returned a negative RAT test.

Mr Cook said he did not believe it represented an unnecessary risk to people onshore. Picture: James D. Morgan/Getty Images for Princess Cruises

“So, we know that people who come off the ship to spend their dollars in the cafes, in the pubs, in the shops of the communities in which they visit — they don’t represent a danger to the community.”

The vessel is expected to dock in Geraldton on Thursday.

It will then continue on to Fremantle, Busselton and Albany before returning to Sydney next month.

Since October 1, the WA government has allowed large cruise ships with a capacity of more than 350 guests to return to the state but this is the first vessel to do so.

In a statement on Monday night, Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia president Marguerite Fitzgerald said a “small number” of people had tested positive.

“In line with our strict and robust health and safety measures, and in accordance with the cruise protocols adopted by the WA Department of Health, these guests continue to isolate in their cabins and have on-board medical care available to them as required,” she said.

“As a result, these guests will unfortunately need to isolate on-board for five days, however, will be supported for the duration of this period.

“For the remaining and majority of our guests, they can continue to access our facilities and are able to disembark at the scheduled destinations.

“Importantly, all symptomatic guests are tested, and this has ensured early detection and protection of other guests and our crew.”

Since October 1, the WA government has allowed large cruise ships to return to the state but this is the first vessel to do so. Picture: Colin Murty/The Australian

Australian Medical Association WA president Mark Duncan-Smith told reporters on Tuesday that a cruise ship full of Covid-19 was of great concern.

“It could put increased pressure on the health system. Certainly, I’m sure that WA Health will be monitoring the situation very closely,” he said.

“One would presume that all of those people on the ship are fully vaccinated and hopefully there won’t be any severe disease.

“Certainly at the moment, if I got offered free tickets on a cruise ship, I don’t think I’d be taking them up.”

A WA Health spokesperson said in a statement on Monday that the cruise ship operators should abide by the national eastern seaboard and WA cruise protocols, as well as having their own Covid-19 plans.

“In accordance with the protocols, while in WA waters cruise operators should report Covid-19 cases to WA Health 12 to 24 hours prior to arrival in a WA port,” they said.

“Regarding the Coral Princess, WA Health has been advised of passengers and crew testing positive to Covid-19, and this evolving situation is being managed by the vessel operator according to its Covid-19 plan.

“Under the protocols, those on-board vessels who have Covid should isolate for five days.”