The hotel manager on board the Ruby Princess was surprised guests tested for COVID-19 had been permitted to leave the ill-fated cruise ship before results were released, an inquiry has heard.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It comes as the vessel is on its way out of Australia after leaving Port Kembla where it had been moored for more than a fortnight.
Hotel manager Charles Verwall told the NSW commission of inquiry on Thursday the situation on sister ship Diamond Princess - quarantined in Japan in February due to a COVID-19 outbreak - had alerted crew to the risks of the virus.
Mr Verwall said social distancing was implemented from the start of the cruise on March 8 as well as increased cleaning protocols and changes to the kitchen service.
But no changes were made to entertainment areas, including nightclubs and shows.
"We were surprised they were allowed to leave the ship before the test results came back," he told the inquiry on Thursday.
He said there was concern on board that passengers could be presenting signs of the virus, but this was difficult to confirm after five negative COVID-19 test results came back from New Zealand - the destination of the 11-day cruise voyage.
He added no NSW Health personnel boarded the ship on arrival in Sydney on March 19 in contrast to their meticulous inspections on March 8.
Mr Verwall said passengers were informed of their responsibility to self-isolate for 14 days after departing the ship.
But the ship has since been linked to 21 coronavirus deaths and up to 600 infections across Australia.
The inquiry running parallel to a NSW Police probe expects to deliver its findings by September.
After five weeks stuck in NSW, the Bermuda-flagged ship was led out of the Wollongong port about 4.30pm on Thursday, bearing a banner with the words "Thank You Illawarra".
Marine Traffic data indicates the Ruby Princess is bound for Manila in the Philippines.
Earlier on Thursday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters about 500 crew members remained on board.
Police say 368 Filipino nationals disembarked the ship on Thursday.
Of this group, 11 crew members who tested positive to COVID-19 were taken to hotels managed by NSW Health to enter quarantine, NSW Police said in a statement.
The rest were taken to Sydney Airport where they are due to fly to the Philippines on Thursday evening.
A total of 542 crew members have disembarked over the last three days to be repatriated to their home countries, including 33 who were taken to hotels to be cared for in isolation until they are medically cleared.
"All agencies involved in the repatriation operation and the many agencies, departments, and companies who provided care and assistance to the crew in recent weeks wish them bon voyage," the statement from NSW Police said.
Earlier, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant said health authorities have been working with the Australian Border Force, police, Aspen Medical, and the ship's medical crew, and was confident the on-board coronavirus outbreak was under control.
Cruise operator Carnival Australia said the priority has been to ensure the health of the crew on board was stable before the ship departed.
"It is distressing and heartbreaking that coronavirus has had such a terrible impact around the world including on some of our guests, crew members, and their families," President Sture Myrmell said on Thursday.
Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said in a statement on Thursday the Ruby Princess crew members had shown strength amid difficult circumstances.
She also thanked the Illawarra community for supporting the crew, with the cruise liner donating $50,000 to the Mission to Seafarers at Port Kembla charity.
"The Illawarra community never lost sight of the fact that this was all about people caught up in difficult circumstances that were not of their making," Ms Swartz said.
Australian Associated Press
