Sydney, March 20 (IANS) Authorities in Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state on Friday said that three more people among the 4,000 passengers and crew on board a cruise ship docked in Sydney were tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Addressing the media, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said that doctors carried out 13 tests on board the “Ruby Princess” and found the three positive cases, which included one crew member, reports Xinhua news agency.
Some 2,700 passengers have left the ship when the testing was still being conducted.
Those passengers had been asked to leave their contact details before they disembarked on Thursday.
Hazzard urged them to self-quarantine for 14 days.
“Our big concern is that those people came off the cruise with no knowledge of COVID being on the ship, and if they think it’s OK to be wandering around, the clear message from me as NSW health minister is: No, it’s not, put yourself immediately into quarantine,” Hazzard said.
“Put yourself in a self-isolation. Follow the rules, and if you’re feeling ill, any of the symptoms that might be related to COVID-19, then make sure you contact a medical practitioner, either your local GP or the local ED in the hospital, and then take advice on what you should be doing.”
Hazzard also told reporters on Friday that the COVID-19 cases in New South Wales had reached 382, with 75 new cases overnight, which was the biggest single day increase in the state.
Australia has so far reported 565 confirmed coronavirus cases with seven deaths.
–IANS
ksk/