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Report condemns health officials over Ruby Princess outbreak
Australian health authorities were slammed for their handling of the Ruby Princess Covid-19 outbreak, with a long awaited report citing a catalogue of errors.
The 320-page report commissioned by the NSW government found passengers were allowed to disembark and travel across the country without quarantining.
More than 600 people contracted Covid-19, which became the largest source of the virus in Australia at the time.
Commissioner Bret Walker called it a ‘sorry episode’ and the delay in getting test results from swab tests of passengers was ‘inexcusable.’
Many had been allowed to disembark before test results were received.
Health authorities wrongly classed the outbreak as ‘low risk’ which was ‘a serious failure by NSW Health,’ the report said.
The report said one crew member texted Carnival Australia’s guest experience senior vice president Peter Little with the message: "Ruby numbers gone berserk," referring to the rising number of infections.
Princess Cruises claims it has been exonerated with no fault attributed to its crew or management.
"In our more than 20 years in Australia, we have always sought to cooperate honestly and professionally with officials in accordance with the regulatory environment," Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises said in a statement.
Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Pacific editor
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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