Coronavirus: More Diamond Princess evacuees to Darwin test positive

FIVE more evacuees to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for coronavirus

The total number of positive Coronavirus cases in Darwin has now reached six. Picture GLENN CAMPBELL

• TWO coronavirus-infected evacuees from Howard Springs quarantine camp on way to home states
• ABOUT 180 coronavirus cruise evacuees arrive at Howard Springs quarantine camp
• AUSTRALIAN evacuees arrive in Darwin from coronavirus-hit Japan cruise ship
• A LOOK inside the Howard Springs coronavirus quarantine facility

HEALTH officials are moving more people, evacuated to Darwin from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, into isolation as they show symptoms of coronavirus.

ive people tested positive for the potentially fatal disease yesterday, bringing the number of cases in the NT to seven. Two Victorians and three Queenslanders were yesterday expected to be repatriated to their home states after tests confirmed they had contracted the virus.

Acting chief health officer Di Stephens said the team was expecting more people at the Howard Springs quarantine to be moved to isolation.

“We do have three people who were identified overnight (who) will be screened today and tested,” she said yesterday. “I expect there may be more numbers put into isolation during the day today.”

Ms Stephens would not reveal how many more people had been moved into isolation but said families were being kept together.

“When we move people into isolation we move their partners with them,” Ms Stephens said. “The very close contacts of the people who have tested positive have already been in isolation.

“Where possible we are repatriating partners with their loved ones interstate, where the retrieval platforms are available to take them.”

So far, the people with potential cases of the virus are only displaying minor symptoms. “They are all reasonably well, with a sore throat, symptoms of a common cold essentially,” Ms Stephens said.

“The rest of the population at Howard Springs are doing very well.” The Wuhan cohort of evacuees, who first arrived at Howard Springs’ Inpex workers camp 14 days ago, will be released sometime this morning. “They’ve been extremely appreciative of the opportunity to come home,” Ms Stephens said.

Amazing NT News subscription offer: Only $1 for first 28 days

The Australian Government yesterday lifted the travel ban for year 11 and year 12 international students coming from China, except those arriving from the Hubei province.