Ruby Princess passenger, 74, dies in hospital after contracting coronavirus on the cruise

Ruby Princess passenger, 74, dies in hospital after contracting coronavirus on the cruise – bringing Australia’s death toll to 57

A South Australian man died from COVID-19 after contracting the virus on board
The 74-year-old died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital overnight, SA Health said
It is the state’s fourth coronavirus death, with the national toll now at 57
The cruise ship is docked at Port Kembla and is under investigation by police
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By Alana Mazzoni For Daily Mail Australia and Aap

Published: 00:23 BST, 12 April 2020 | Updated: 00:37 BST, 12 April 2020

A South Australian man has died from COVID-19 after contracting the virus on the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

The 74-year-old man succumbed to the infection in the Royal Adelaide Hospital overnight, SA Health confirmed on Sunday.

It is the state’s fourth coronavirus death, with the national toll now standing at 57.

‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the man,’ SA Health said.

More than a dozen Ruby Princess passengers have died from the virus, and more than 500 people have been infected, either onboard or from contact with people who were.

Ruby Princess has become the largest source of coronavirus infection in Australia after more than 2,600 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney on Match 19 without undergoing adequate health checks.

The 74-year-old man succumbed to the infection in the Royal Adelaide Hospital overnight, SA Health confirmed on Sunday

More than 2,600 passengers were allowed to disembark in Sydney on Match 19 without undergoing adequate health checks

The cruise ship – which is now docked at Port Kembla, south of Sydney – is under investigation by police.

A team of 30 detectives from state crime, counter terrorism and marine area command are investigating the communications and actions which led to the docking and disembarking of the vessel.

The investigation will cover the actions of the port authority, ambulance, police, the NSW Health department and Carnival Australia.

‘The only way I can get to the bottom of whether our national biosecurity laws and our state laws were broken is through a criminal investigation,’ NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said.

The investigation will cover the actions of the port authority, ambulance, police, the NSW Health department and Carnival Australia.

NSW Health on Saturday confirmed that at least 46 crew members of the Ruby Princess cruise ship contracted COVID-19.

Timeline of Ruby Princess fiasco

March 18: The Ruby Princess issues an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms 24 hours before the ship is allowed to dock in Sydney.

March 19: The Ruby Princess arrives in Sydney Harbour. More than 2,700 guests are allowed to disembark without adequate health checks.

March 25: Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says New South Wales Health is responsible for letting coronavirus patients disembark the ship.

March 29: Several crew members are evacuated and taken to hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

April 2: A 66-year-old crew member is taken off the Ruby Princess for medical treatment. More than 200 crew members are sick and in self-isolation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian defends the actions of NSW Health and the Australian Border Force and points the finger at the Ruby Princess. She claims staff onboard may have misled NSW Health about the extent of illnesses in passengers.

April 3: Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton alleges Ruby Princess’ operators weren’t transparent about the health of crew: ‘It was ‘clear that some of the companies have been lying about the health of passengers and crew on board’.

April 4: Leaked emails show NSW Health knew of the coronavirus risk on board the Ruby Princess before allowing its thousands of passengers to disembark.

April 5: A criminal investigation is launched into how passengers were able to disembark without health checks

April 8: A team of 30 detectives from state crime, counter terrorism and marine area command start investigating the handling of the Ruby Princess coronavirus scandal. The first briefing into the investigation is held.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk