Tasmanian cruise ship passengers urged to remain in self-isolation

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Tasmania has grown to 22, with the five newest cases having recently returned from overseas.

THE number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Tasmania has grown to 22, with the five newest cases having recently returned from overseas.

In an update issued on Sunday night, Public Health Director Mark Veitch said two were people who had recently returned from the United States, two were from the Ruby Princess cruise that arrived in Sydney on March 19 and one was from the Ovation of the Seas cruise that arrived in Sydney on March 18.

“These cases diagnosed in Tasmania reflect the rapidly increasing incidence of coronavirus infection throughout the world, and the occurrence of cases and outbreaks of coronavirus infection on cruise ships. These cases show why measures to quarantine persons recently arrived from overseas were put in place, followed by measures to quarantine persons arriving from mainland Australia,” Dr Veitch said.

With a number of cruise ship passengers experiencing flu-like symptoms upon their return to Tasmania, concerns were raised earlier on Sunday over a potential increase in coronavirus cases stemming from Sydney cruise ships.

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On Thursday the Ruby Princess arrived in Sydney following a short cruise around New Zealand.

Cruise ship passengers disembark from the Ruby Princess at Circular Quay in Sydney on Thursday. Picture: AAP/DEAN LEWINS

More than 10 swabs were done on-board the ship to test for the virus, yet passengers were allowed to disembark and head back into the community.

Premier Peter Gutwein said the State Government would continue to put the health and safety of Tasmanians first.

“I cannot comment on why these passengers were tested and allowed to disembark but never has it been clearer to me, that the decisions we made to lead the nation in implementing stronger border and quarantine measures were the right ones,” he said.

“While we are doing a good job, we must continue to do better, and I urge those Tasmanians who have now returned home from that cruise to obey the rules and ensure they are self-isolating.”

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Dr Veitch said it was very important to get in touch with the 54 people who had been on the Ruby Princess and who had returned to Tasmania.

He said they would also chase up the contacts of the passengers and people who were on their flights.

Labor leader Rebecca White said the return of the cruise ship passengers was concerning.

Tasmanian Labor leader Rebecca White. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

“That is incredibly worrying because they’re putting everybody's lives at risk,” she said.

“We need to make sure the government steps up now the requirement to mandate people for quarantine when they’ve come back to Tasmania or they’ve travelled here from overseas.”