Authorities in Queensland are dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak on a cruise ship as the state’s third virus wave approaches 41,000 active cases.
The outbreak on the Coral Princess in Brisbane on Sunday prompted Princess Cruises to offer refunds to individuals who had booked on its upcoming 12-day voyage.
She claims that some passengers are isolating themselves at home or in other accommodations, while authorities are assisting the corporation in managing diseased crew members on board.
Ms D’Ath told reporters on Monday, ‘This was always going to happen, just like the rest of the community.’
‘There is no evading the illness, but I do want to appreciate that the public health units, as well as the cruise line, are doing everything right and following the regulations in place.’
Princess Cruises has been contacted for comment.
On Monday, Queensland logged 4804 COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 40,489.
Although no one has died as a result of the virus, there are 782 patients in hospitals and 10 in intensive care.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there was no intention to make face masks mandatory, and that it was up to individuals whether or not to wear one.
‘People must take personal responsibility,’ she told reporters.
‘So, if you’re in a crowded environment, you have the option of wearing the mask.’
She urged people over the age of 65 to wear masks though, and ensure they have had a booster, as those ‘ending up in hospital and tragically, the people are losing their lives, are people over 65’.
With students returning to school after the summer break on Monday, the health minister urged parents to keep their sick children at home.
Meanwhile, Ms D’Ath stated that she was unsure whether authorities were tracking reinfection rates because the majority of COVID-19 cases were discovered following quick antigen tests.
She stated that while they have not previously questioned whether people had had the virus, serious cases are being PCR-tested and recorded for reinfection.
‘They are examining that history and gathering that data as well, but the message is clear to everyone: If you have had COVID before, you can surely obtain it again,’ the minister said.
‘What we do know about BA.4 and 5, the new Omicron subvariants, is that we are seeing reinfection, and it can happen pretty quickly, so it might happen within the 12 weeks that we previously discussed.’