A cruise ship carrying around 800 passengers infected with Covid has docked in Sydney.
The Majestic Princess arrived at Circular Quay shortly before 6am on Saturday, and many passengers sat on their balconies to watch the ship dock at the port, many wearing masks.
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Ambulance crews were on hand at the overseas passenger terminal as passengers prepared to disembark the ship, which has just finished a 12-day tour of New Zealand.
The majestic princess arrives in Sydne Credit: Supplied
It is estimated that almost one in four guests on board the luxury ship Majestic Princess has been diagnosed with Covid-19.
The cruise outbreak means this is Australia’s biggest outbreak since the Ruby Princess docked in 2020.
A spokesperson for Princess Cruises confirmed the Covid outbreak in a statement.
“As a reflection of increased community transmission, we have also seen more guests test positive for Covid-19 on the current Majestic Princess voyage,” the statement said.
“These guests are mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic and are isolated in their cabins.
“All non-affected guests are wearing masks and this will continue when they disembark in Sydney. We have been proactively preparing for and managing Covid-19 incidents and continue to work closely with NSW Health, including following their guidelines.”
It is understood that private transport has been arranged for affected guests to self-isolate at a location of their choice, be it their home, a hotel or another location.
East Coast and cruise ship protocols state that passengers and crew who test positive for Covid-19 “must self-isolate for five full days from the date of the positive test result”.