No “dual outbreak” on Grand Princess and sick passenger numbers in “single digits”: Princess Cruises

Iconic Port Adelaide lighthouse with tourist boat viewed across Port River at sunset, South Australia

The reported outbreaks of COVID-19 and gastro onboard Grand Princess appear to now be under control.

Grand Princess arrived in Adelaide this morning on day two of her four-day round trip voyage from Melbourne.

A spokesperson for SA Health told Travel Weekly that as of this morning, things onboard had returned to relative normal.

We have been in contact with the ship’s doctor this morning. SA Health has been informed that the outbreaks have been declared over and the few remaining cases are consistent with numbers you would expect on any cruise,” the spokesperson said.

The ship hit the headlines over the weekend after reports as many as 2600 passengers and 1150 staff fell ill during the during an 18-day cruise to Queensland.

The Grand Princess had stopped at Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle, Airlie Beach, Cairns and Brisbane.

A statement from Princess Cruises said there is no current “dual outbreak” of illness on the ship, as is being reported.

“While we do not provide numbers of unwell guests we can say that the number of guests with symptoms are in the single digits,” a spokesperson said

“On the previous voyage (a 14-day roundtrip cruise from Melbourne to Queensland) a number of people reported to the Medical Centre with symptoms of respiratory illness and acute gastrointestinal illness.

“While most guests were unaffected by illness on that voyage, we proactively launched a comprehensive disinfection program, developed in coordination with international health authorities to prevent further spread.

“In an abundance of caution, there will be another disinfection program carried out on board the ship in Adelaide today before Grand Princess returns to Melbourne on Wednesday 15 November.

“Some guests have disembarked in Adelaide today after completing their holiday,” the statement said.

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