Tighter pre-arrival screening rules on the way for cruise ships

Woman with protective face mask on the ferry

Federal officials are considering a new set of enhanced protocols in the wake of the Ruby Princess debacle.

Among the tightened measures is a requirement for all passengers and staff to declare they do not have symptoms of COVID-19, according to The Australian.

A report released by the state government’s special inquiry into the Ruby Princess outbreak last week has highlighted the need for tougher pre-arrival reporting requirements.

A government official told the Australian that failing to declare symptoms would result in hefty fines, with current breaches of the biosecurity act currently fetching penalties of up to $26,640 or up to two years in prison.

Since late June, is has been a requirement for commercial vessels to declare if they have symptoms of the virus, and it looks like the measure will extend to cruise ships when travel restrictions loosen.

Since 27 March, foreign-flagged cruise ships have been barred from entering Australian waters with the department of health flagging 17 September as a possible return date.

The special enquiry’s report lays much of the blame for the outbreak that resulted from the Ruby Princess disembarkation on state health authorities, with Princess Cruises parent company, Carnival, coming off virtually unscathed.

NSW Premier Gladys Berajiklian has apologised “unreservedly” for the state’s role in the disembarkation of the ship.

The inquiry was established in April after 2,700  passengers were allowed to disembark the Ruby Princess in March, which led to hundreds of cases of COVID-19 and at least 28 deaths.


Featured image source: iStock/byakkaya

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