Criminal investigation launched into Ruby Princess

Australia has launched a criminal investigation into how cruise passengers with possible Covid-19 symptoms were allowed to leave the Ruby Princess in Sydney.

More than 600 people from the Princess Cruises ship later tested positive for coronavirus, 10 of whom have since died.

The Princess Cruises ship remains off the coast of Australia with almost 200 sick crew members on board. Carnival Australia, the ship’s parent comany, is appealing to Australia to allow them to be repatriated.

Police in New South Wales said they would look into whether national biosecurity laws had been broken.

Australia has so far reported 5,548 coronavirus cases, almost 10% of which were from the Ruby Princess.

MMP