Queensland police probe how superyacht with Covid-positive case on board docked in Cairns
Qld police probe the mysterious Cairns arrival of a superyacht carrying a young woman who has tested positive to Covid.
Queensland Police are scrambling to figure out whether a superyacht that appeared without warning in Cairns this week with a coronavirus case had permission to dock.
The luxury yacht called Lady E allegedly docked in Australia on Monday, December 21, from the Maldives carrying 14 passengers and six crew members.
A woman in her 20s tested positive for the virus yesterday, the second case reported in Queensland over the past 24 hours.
Passengers and crew have allegedly been uncooperative with police about their whereabouts but at this stage there is no suggestion they have come off the boat or mingled with locals since their arrival.
All passengers have now been moved into mandatory hotel quarantine and are being tested for the virus. The crew remain on board for maritime safety and have been directed to self-isolate.
It is understood investigation into the ship’s arrival had begun prior to the positive confirmed case of the virus.
Hotel quarantine will not be the luxury many of the group have become accustomed to during their stay on the luxury liner. Weekly hire of the Lady E costs a cool $USD595,000 per week to experience the trimmings of a marine basketball court, heated pool with jets, a Turkish sauna and spa room, a custom-built Linley bar and an on-board masseuse and yoga teacher.
Earlier this month, fresh-air breaks were banned for those in mandatory hotel isolation due to fears of transmission.
Virus concerns are growing in Queensland as a result of the two Christmas Eve cases, which coincide with the state passing 100 days of no community transmission
Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said she believed the virus was in the community and reinforced the need to maintain social distancing.
“I am concerned we do have the virus now in Queensland,” Ms Young said.
“I have seen the positive sewage results and we have seen people return from the northern beaches and Sydney.
“We want to do everything we possibly can to make sure that we do not get any community transmission here in Queensland.”
NSW Health has identified 53 close contacts in Queensland to southern cases. In the past 48 hours, 25,000 tests have been conducted across the state.
Queensland Health has confirmed the latest incident in Cairns is unrelated to positive sewerage tests for the virus in the region.
The second COVID-19 case in the state was a southeast Queensland man who returned from Sydney after visiting the northern beaches on December 18. He initially tested negative for the virus but became unwell while in self-isolation and tested positive last night.
He has since been transferred to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and his household put into isolation.
Health minister Yvette D’Ath said the case was the “gold standard” and urged any return travellers to get tested again if they become unwell
Dr Young could not commit to the January 8 reopening date to Greater Sydney due to an unlinked case.
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