Queensland has recorded two new cases of COVID-19 after a guest aboard a superyacht that docked in Cairns with 20 people on board tested positive to the virus.
A female crew member aged in her 20s was aboard the ‘Lady E’ yacht when it arrived in Cairns on Monday. Health authorities are currently testing the rest of the 14 passengers and six crew on board, while Police investigate the yacht’s trip history.
The crew members had been granted exemptions from the state’s strict mandatory hotel quarantine on the condition that they stay on the boat and maintain the vessel.
Queensland Health Minister, Yvette DeAth says she’s “extremely disappointed” that the crew aboard the luxury yacht – which reportedly costs $780,000 to hire – had so far not been cooperative with police.
“We will leave that for the police to deal with, but we are very disappointed they are not cooperating and providing factual and correct information to the Queensland Police,” she said today.
Queensland Police confirmed earlier today that they were investigating what stop-overs the yacht made before it arrived in Cairns.
The yacht boasts a basketball court, heated swimming pool, sauna and is staffed with an on-board masseuse and yoga instructor.
The yacht debacle follows news today that a local man in his 40s had travelled within Sydney’s Northern Beaches before returning to Queensland and going into home quarantine.
The man was tested upon his return to the Sunshine State on December 18 and recorded a negative result. However, he developed symptoms of the virus while in home isolation and a subsequent test revealed a positive result for COVID-19.
“I am concerned that we do have the virus in Queensland,” said Chief Health Officer, Jeannette Young.
“We know there were a lot of people who have come back into Queensland from the Northern Beaches are and other parts of Sydney.”
