South Australian health authorities say the Ruby Princess is continuing to drive new coronavirus cases in the state, with half of the latest positive tests linked to the cruise ship.
Key points:
- Sixty of the state's 235 cases are linked to cruise ships
- That includes 44 linked to the Ruby Princess — 19 in the past 24 hours
- A man aged 50 with coronavirus is receiving treatment in intensive care
The state has now recorded 235 COVID-19 cases — an increase of 38 since yesterday — including another patient in intensive care.
"The South Australian public would be interested to know 19 of these cases are from the cruise ship the Ruby Princess," chief public health officer Dr Nicola Spurrier said.
"In total we've had 60 people in South Australia who've had COVID-19 they've contracted on a cruise liner."
About 2,700 passengers disembarked when the Ruby Princess docked in Sydney last week.
The move prompted a war of words between federal and state authorities, with the Australian Border Force commissioner critical of the NSW Government.
However, Dr Spurrier would not be drawn on whether the situation had been mishandled.
"I would never say I was disappointed or upset because this is a really difficult situation for all of us," she said.
"[Passengers] were provided with information about their requirement to self-isolate. I certainly haven't been told people in South Australia haven't been following that advice.
"They've been coming forward, when they've become symptomatic they've got tested."
Passenger with coronavirus stranded at an Airbnb
Among the cruise ship passengers in quarantine — inside an Adelaide Airbnb — are British tourists Steve Dixson and wife Tina, who has been diagnosed with coronavirus.
The couple said they were without access to food, supplies and medical advice, and were "scared stiff" after what was meant to be the holiday of a lifetime came to an abrupt end.
"Tina was very unwell 18 months ago, she had a brain tumour which was obviously upsetting and in September I lost my dad and then in December my younger brother had a fatal heart attack," Mr Dixson told ABC News.
"It was a relief to get away and celebrate our lives so we took what money we had and three months overseas."
The couple disembarked from the Celebrity Solstice cruise liner in Sydney last week, before heading to Adelaide and being advised to self-isolate.
"[Authorities] said there's no virus on here, it's absolutely fine … and literally we all got off the ship and went our separate ways," she said.
Ms Dixson said she received a call on Wednesday to say she had tested positive to COVID-19 and that SA Health would be in touch with her.
She said 24 hours later she had received no follow-up phone call and had no way to access food or medical supplies in a city where she did not know anyone.
"They just said keep your phone clear because they're going to get the health organisation to call us and go through things, and we've just heard nothing since," Tina said.
"We were just told to stay indoors, don't go out."
The couple said they had been unable to register online for Coles or Woolworths accounts and had to rely on a good Samaritan who asked his daughter to buy shopping and "drop bags off at the end of our drive".
"The Australian people have been absolutely wonderful to us … [but] we'd just like some help some sort of contact to say we need this, we need that," Ms Dixson said.
The ABC helped the couple purchase an Australian phone and SIM card because they could not ring 1800 numbers from their UK phone.
"We're scared stiff, we just don't know what to do if anything happens — where to go, what to do. We're just waiting for a phone call," Mr Dixson said.
"I'm an asthmatic … so I don't know how badly it's going to hit me. I've got my drugs with me but they won't last forever.
"It's such a worry. You don't need other worries bringing up other stress which might bring up other things, so we just need to know for peace of mind."
Man aged 50 in intensive care
SA Health has also confirmed a third coronavirus patient is now receiving treatment in intensive care.
"We have had unfortunately one more person who has required admission to intensive care and that's a 50-year-old man and my thoughts are with his family at this time," Dr Spurrier said.
Two other men, aged 68 and 76, remain in intensive care and "are still considered to be in a stable condition".
An 11-month-old at the Women's and Children's Hospital and a 10-year-old are also among the state's cases.
SA Pathology has now conducted 22,000 tests and a new dedicated hotline (1800 253 787) for information on COVID-19 has been established.
Dr Spurrier said it was for those "who are concerned they may have symptoms and want to seek help and want to know where the best place to go is".
"It's also for people in self-isolation who may have queries about that process," she said.
Last week, a group of 10 American tourists in the Barossa Valley tested positive — but that number has jumped to 16.
Dr Spurrier said she was not aware of anyone being fined due to breaches of new regulations.
What the experts are saying about coronavirus:
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Coronavirus cases in SA rise by 38, with half linked to Ruby Princess cruise ship - ABC News"
Post a Comment