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Cruise in Australia has Covid-19 outbreak and records about 800 positive cases

Australia’s Home Minister sought to reassure the population on Saturday, saying that Covid-19 protocols are adequate after a cruise ship with hundreds of infected passengers docked in Sydney.

Carnival Australia’s Majestic Princess cruise ship was docked in Sydney, capital of the most populous state of New South Wales, with “about” 800 passengers on board testing positive for the virus, the company said.

State health officials rated the risk level of the outbreak as “Level 3,” indicating a high level of transmission.

The incident sparked comparisons to a notorious 2020 outbreak aboard the Ruby Princess cruise ship. That outbreak, also in New South Wales, has led to 914 infections and 28 deaths, according to a survey.

Home Secretary Clare O’Neil said authorities had created “regular protocols” after the Ruby Princess episode and that New South Wales Health would take the lead in determining how to get passengers off the Majestic Princess “on a case-by-case basis”. .

The federal border force officer will play a complementary role to state officials, O’Neil told reporters in Melbourne.

Carnival Australia, part of global leisure company Carnival Corporation & plc, said Covid-positive passengers were isolated on board and being cared for by medical staff, according to New South Wales Health. The agency said it is working with the cruise ship’s staff to monitor the health of passengers and crew members.

Company president Marguerite Fitzgerald told ABC television that the company has implemented extra protocols as Carnival has seen a high number of Covid cases.

The outbreak comes as Covid-19 cases surge across Australia, reflecting community transmission of the Omicron XBB variant, the federal government said this week.

Source: CNN Brasil

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