Covid spreads through cruise ship docked in Queensland

Health authorities have confirmed a Covid-19 outbreak on a major cruise ship docked at a major Australian port.

Authorities have confirmed a Covid-19 outbreak on a prominent cruise ship docked in Brisbane.

The Coral Princess, which docked on Sunday after sailing from Port Douglas, has confirmed cases of Covid among both passengers and staff.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the ship followed protocols prior to the outbreak.

“There were protocols put in place as to what would occur if there was an outbreak and we are seeing an outbreak,” she said.

“Some of those passengers are being removed, they have chosen to isolate either home or in other accommodation and we’ve supported them in doing that.”

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the cruise ship had followed protocols following the outbreak. Picture: David Clark

“This was always going to happen; just like the rest of community, the virus is everywhere, and there’s no escaping that.”

Passengers eager to travel on the ship have been warned of the outbreak, with authorities saying the choice to jump aboard is ultimately up to them.

The outbreak follows after the state races to triple vaccinate, with authorities predicting the latest wave may be just as potent as the first.

While less than 40 per cent of the population have had a flu jab, just 63 per cent have had their third booster, well below the national rate of 70.7 per cent.

Health authorities have warned that the state is “progressing towards the peak” of Omicron, with modelling indicating the wave is “going to get worse” until at least the end of July.

Chief health officer John Gerrard said the BA. 4 and BA. 5 subvariants were now “well established in Queensland”, with hospitals feeling the strain of more than 700 Covid-19 inpatients across the public and private sector.

“The number of public hospital Covid inpatients has risen by 140 per cent over the last month in Queensland,” he said.

The Sunshine State is expected to reach its Covid peak by the end of this month. Picture: David Clark

“The current wave is projected based on our most recent modelling and is set to continue to get worse until the end of July or early August.

“There will be even greater pressure on our hospitals in the coming weeks.”

Dr Gerrard said Queensland had surpassed the number of Covid patients it had during the peak of Omicron back in January, prompting the government to roll out a fourth Covid jab for residents aged 30 and above.

A combination of Covid, influenza and staff shortages is creating mounting pressure on the state’s healthcare system.

There are more than 2300 healthcare staff who have been furloughed due to Covid in the state – this number excludes those who have been sick with influenza or are off on annual leave.

In a press conference last week, Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said there were nearly 750 people in hospital with Covid, the highest-ever number of Covid patients.

In addition, there are more than 100 cases of people in hospital with influenza.

“If people can’t get in to see a GP, then they turn to our public hospital system and that’s why we are seeing so much demand on our EDs (emergency departments) and we’re seeing increased chronic illness and more complex cases,” Ms D’Ath said.

“I saw that Dr Bruce Willett came out yesterday talking about the pressures on our GPS and he has over 30 years of experience as a GP.

“He said he has never seen this sort of pressure on our general practitioners and pressure on our GPs means pressure on our hospital system.”

More than 60 per cent of Queenslanders have had their booster. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dan Peled

The mounting pressure on the Queensland health system has led non-urgent elective surgeries to be suspended at some of the state’s most prominent hospitals, including Prince Charles and Redcliffe.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said hospitals were delaying elective surgeries so they could activate their Covid surge plans.

“I’d just urge people that if they are contacted by their hospital and told that their planned care, their less urgent care, needs to be rescheduled, it’s because our doctors and nurses are working just as hard as they can to take care of more urgent cases,” he said.