NewsBite

Coronavirus: Australians to be evacuated from Diamond Princess cruise ship

The number of coronavirus cases aboard the Diamond Princess has jumped to 454, as it’s announced more than 200 Australians will be evacuated.

The Diamond Princess cruise ship has been quarantined at Yokohama, Japan. Picture: AFP
The Diamond Princess cruise ship has been quarantined at Yokohama, Japan. Picture: AFP

Japan has confirmed 99 more cases of people infected by coronavirus aboard quarantined ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454.

Hundreds of Australians will be evacuated from the cruise ship and flown for quarantine in Darwin on Wednesday, but Scott Morrison says any Australian passengers who do not take up the offer will be barred from coming home.

The Prime Minister said on Monday that Qantas will pilot the flight from Yokohama – where the cruise ship has been stranded for two weeks – and the evacuees will be set up at Darwin’s Howard Springs facility.

Any other passengers on the cruiser – including Australians – will not be allowed into Australia for the next 14 days.

“We recommend they take up the option of being on that flight being provided for by the Australian government,” Mr Morrison said in Melbourne.

“It will make sure their health and well-being is taken care of on their return to Australia.

“Then they can return home to friends and family as soon as possible after that.

Passengers on a Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia where one US woman tested positive for coronavirus will also be required to self-isolate when they return home to Australia.

How the rescue will unfold

Qantas will operate the rescue mission from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which is 21km from Yokohama port.

It’s understand passengers will be bussed from Yokohama to the airport where they will be quarantined from other travellers.

The same aircraft used for the Wuhan rescue flights, a Boeing 747-400 registered VH-OEE, will conduct the non-stop mission from Haneda to Darwin where passengers will disembark.

The aeroplane will then return to Sydney for deep cleaning before it is used on regular commercial services.

Due to the fact Qantas already operates flights to and from Haneda, and the airport is continuing to operate as normal, there are fewer hurdles for Qantas to clear before the mission on Wednesday.

Two rescue flights from Wuhan were complicated by the need for approval from the Chinese Government, and the lack of flight plans and ground crews at Wuhan Airport.

PM ‘frustrated’

After weeks quarantined in their cabins, Mr Morrison said he understood and was “frustrated” that the Australian passengers of the Diamond Princess would be forced into further isolation to stop the possible spread of coronavirus.

“I understand that those who were on-board will feel very frustrated about this, as well their family members … I am very frustrated about it,” he said.

“But our first responsibility is that we have to protect the health and safety of Australians in Australia today.

“We want to get you home to your family, your friends, quick as we possibly can with the best care possible.

“And to ensure at the same time we preserve and maintain these strong mechanisms and arrangements we have put in place to protect the broader health of Australians in response to the coronavirus.”

Darwin has been chosen as the quarantine site for the Australian passengers over Christmas Island as it has more substantial medical facilities for the elderly Australians on the ship.

In Phnom Penh, 39 Australians are being tested for coronavirus after getting the Westerdam cruiser and another 10 Australians have remained on the ship.

The one case of coronavirus was from a 83-year-old US woman whose disease was not detected until she had left the ship.

Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy said anyone on the Westerdam returning to Australia would be required to go into isolation.

Read related topics:Coronavirus

Add your comment to this story

To join the conversation, please Don't have an account? Register

Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/coronavirus-australians-to-be-evacuated-from-diamond-princess-cruise-ship/news-story/94ac667b40123a7352096bb78437ff9c