Passengers have disembarked in Sydney from a Covid-infected cruise ship where there are more than 100 positive cases.
Passengers on-board a Covid-infected cruise ship need to return a negative rapid antigen test before they are allowed to disembark after more than 110 people have tested positive for the virus.
The Coral Princess, with around 2300 people on-board, docked at Circular Quay in Sydney about 6.30am on Wednesday morning.
As of Tuesday, 118 people on the ship have tested positive for Covid – 114 staff and four passengers.
Those who are infected have been told to isolate in their cabins until they produce a negative test result.
The other passengers must also record a negative result test before they are allowed to disembark and have been strongly advised to wear masks while in Sydney, while the crew must remain on-board.
Passengers started leaving the ship in Sydney Harbour before 9am on Wednesday.
It comes after 800 passengers were allowed to disembark in Eden on Tuesday under the same condition that they returned a negative Covid test result.
The Coral Princess set off from Brisbane on Sunday and is set to only stay in Sydney for one day.
NSW Health has previously said Covid-infected passengers most likely already had the virus prior to boarding the cruise ship.
“While a small number of passengers have been diagnosed with Covid since boarding the Coral Princess, their infections were most likely acquired prior to boarding and they subsequently tested positive,” it said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The vast majority of Covid-19 cases on the ship are currently in crew members. All Covid-positive people are isolating and being cared for by the on-board medical team.”
A Princess Cruises spokesperson said they were expecting a “successful” stop in Sydney after they received a “warm welcome” in Eden.
“Our focus has now turned to Coral Princess’s scheduled Sydney call today (Wednesday), which we anticipate will be similarly successful,” they said.
“We have worked collaboratively with NSW health authorities on arrangements and have agreed that any guests going ashore will again first need to obtain a negative RAT result.
“As previously stated, Covid cases are overwhelmingly among crew rather than guests. Crew members were identified as a result of protocols which include regular surveillance with full crew screening. Under the protocols that have supported the resumption of cruising in Australia since May, all crew must also be fully vaccinated.
“The crew members who tested positive are in isolation and are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. They have no contact with guests.”
Queensland chief health officer John Gerrard revealed on Tuesday that 24 Covid-infected passengers had disembarked in Brisbane and were all in isolation.
The Coral Princess will set off for its home port in Brisbane after its one-day stay in Sydney.
It is a sister ship of the Ruby Princess, which was linked to more than 900 cases and 28 Covid-related deaths in 2020.
Originally published as Coral Princess passengers must return negative Covid test before disembarking
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