Two Evacuated Australians From Diamond Princess Test Positive For Coronavirus
Two Australians who were stranded on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for coronavirus after arriving in Darwin for another 14-day quarantine period.
About 180 Australians are now in quarantine at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory after being rescued from a coronavirus-stricken cruise ship in Japan.
On arrival all passengers were screened before being allowed to leave the ship -- none initially returned positive results or showed any symptoms of the disease, according to chief medical officer Professor Brendan Murphy.
However, six people were later isolated after showing respiratory symptoms and two have tested positive for the virus.
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A 24-year-old South Australian woman is one of the two people who tested positive for coronavirus, after arriving in Darwin off the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
SA Health said it became aware of the diagnosis late Thursday night.
The woman will be flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital today to be assessed and admitted.
"When she came off the Qantas flight that landed in Darwin yesterday she said that she wasn't feeling the best and that she had a sore throat," SA Health's Nicola Spurrier said.
The other patient is understood to be from Western Australia.
"Both remain well and are being housed in a separate isolation unit at the village, while public health authorities from their home States organise medical evacuation for both the patients and their partners," he said.
He said given the spread of the virus on board the Diamond Princess the development of new cases is "not unexpected" despite all of the health screening before departure.
Murphy also said that all possible measures were taken to ensure the passengers on board the Qantas flight were protected. He explained that the small number of passengers on the plane meant they could spread out.
"We will closely watch those who were sitting next to those who developed the disease," he said during a media conference today.
Precautions such as daily health screening will be in place.
"The health of all other people housed at Howard Springs will continue to be closely monitored," Prof Murphy said.
"I can assure the Howard Springs Community that this development poses no risk to the broader community."
More to come.
