Coronavirus NSW: Tearful apology during Ruby Princess inquiry

Crew members on board the Ruby Princess have revealed details of a party that took place in Sydney despite some passengers having COVID-19 symptoms.

Crew members working on the ill-fated Ruby Princess cruise ship have spoken out about an employee-only party held on board following the disembarkation of 2700 passengers in to Sydney.

According to the ABC’s 7.30 Report, which aired on Tuesday, all crew members on board the ship were given an extravagant party entertained by dancers and musicians, and given no warning that some passengers had presented with COVID-19 symptoms.

The crew partied on board the Ruby Princess cruise ship after passengers disembarked in Sydney on March 19.

One of the musicians who performed during the party, New Zealander Chris Harris, revealed that he, along with the rest of the crew members on board, thought the ship was “healthy”.

“People weren’t too concerned about it,” Mr Harris said of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were aware of the social distancing, but in our minds we were thinking the ship is healthy, nobody’s got the coronavirus, so we don’t need to worry.”

There was no social distancing measures on board during the party.

Byron Sodani, a fitness instructor on board the Ruby Princess, said the event – normally reserved for guests – was welcomed by the crew members who never “party without passengers”.

“We thought we had a clean ship and the idea of COVID-19 was just outside,” he said.

“Because why would you let us do a party together?

“When it comes to health, I feel like we have all been put in danger here.”

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"I'm very sorry it turned out the way it did. It was not our intention. Myself and my colleagues at the public health unit were working very hard on this. We did what we could. And if we could do it again, it would be very different" - @NSWHealth Epidemiologist Kelly-Anne Ressler pic.twitter.com/CzVQDztZSF

— 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 5, 2020

The revelations come as the special commission into the handling of the Ruby Princess began on Tuesday in Canberra, where a senior NSW Health official issued a tearful apology over the government department’s failures in dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak on board the ship.

To date, more than 20 Ruby Princess passengers have died from coronavirus, and a further 600 have been infected. At least 203 crew members have also tested positive for COVID-19.

Giving evidence at the inquiry, NSW Health Public Health Unit epidemiologist and co-ordinator of the department’s cruise ship health program Kelly-Anne Ressler said that if she and her colleagues had their time over the situation “would be very different”.

During questioning, the inquiry’s Commissioner Bret Walker asked Ms Ressler why he shouldn’t rule there had been a “reprehensible shortcoming” by NSW Health for allowing passengers to disembark the ship – reducing her to tears.

“All I can say is that I’m very sorry it turned out the way it did. It was not our intention,” she said.

“Myself and my colleagues at the public health unit were working very hard on this. We did what we could. And if we could do it again, it would be very different.”

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Epidemiologist Kelly-Anne Ressler broke down in tear as she gave evidence at the Ruby Princess Inquiry. Picture: Supplied

Ms Ressler told the commission an expert health panel had been created to specifically look into the risks of COVID-19 earlier in 2020.

Although not part of the panel, she was involved in providing “assistance and suggestions” towards a draft protocol document, which was released on February 19.

The protocol suggested all passengers visit a ship’s medical centre if they had respiratory symptoms or a fever, with isolation to follow.

But, Ms Ressler said, while a ship was at sea she had “no jurisdiction” to control what actions were taken.

More than 20 passengers on board the ship have died and 600 have been infected. Picture: AAP Image/Supplied by NSW Police

The federal department overseeing biosecurity arrangement has said NSW Health “advised there were no issues preventing disembarkation”.

Counsel assisting Richard Beasley SC said there were only 25 COVID-19 test kits available on board the cruise ship with only 13 people swabbed by the time the ship docked.

Mr Walker asked if Ms Ressler thought it was strange more people were tested for influenza than for coronavirus.

“I wasn’t part of the decision making for developing the testing criteria and until you raised it with me now I wasn’t aware it was so unsatisfactory,” Ms Ressler replied.

The special commission is required to deliver its final report by mid-August. A separate Senate inquiry into the Ruby Princess began on Tuesday in Canberra, while a NSW Police criminal probe is also under way.

– with wires