Coronavirus: Ruby Princess risk assessment ‘not up to the mark’

Senior NSW Health officials have lined up again to concede there were serious deficiencies in the management of the Ruby Princess.

NSW Health Public Health Unit director Mark Ferson at the inquiry on Monday.

Senior NSW Health officials have lined up again to concede there were serious deficiencies in the management of the Ruby Princess cruise ship, admitting risk ­assessments and oversight mechanisms were not rigorous enough.

Mark Ferson, director of the NSW Health Public Health Unit, told a special commission of inquiry an updated log of unwell passengers should have been examined by the risk assessment panel that graded the ship a “low risk” for entry.

He said further questions should have also been asked of the ship when it did not comply with basic protocols to swab at-risk passengers.

The inquiry is examining the circumstances behind the arrival of the Ruby Princess in Sydney on the morning of March 19, and the resulting decisions that saw its nearly 4000 passengers dis­embark before COVID-19 testing could be completed on 10 swabs taken for analysis.

The inquiry has already heard from other senior NSW Health officials that the ship’s small number of COVID-19 swabs fell short of the number expected: according to the protocols, swabs are supposed to be taken from any person with acute respiratory symptoms or those consistent with an influenza-like-illness, of which more than 100 passengers were logged. Questions have been asked repeatedly as to why all of those passengers were not swabbed for the virus.

Asked whether the deficiency should have prompted a reminder that the ship could face consequences if it did not comply with the protocols, Professor Ferson agreed that this was what should have occurred.

“Was there some reason why that wasn’t done?” asked the ­inquiry’s commissioner, Bret Walker SC.

“Not that I’m aware of,” Professor Ferson replied, adding: “It should have been done.”

A second official called to give evidence to the inquiry was Isabel Hess, staff specialist at the Public Health Unit and a member of the risk assessment panel, who said, in hindsight, the system of risk assessments was not an effective means of maintaining public health.

The Ruby Princess was graded “low risk” by the panel ahead of its arrival, and would later go on to form the largest single cluster of COVID-19 cases in the country.

At least 700 infections have been traced back to the vessel and at least 20 passengers have died.