Stage 2 lockdown imminent as Australia records 8th COVID-19 death
Health authorities in NSW have provided their latest update on a woman in her 70s who has become the country’s eighth COVID-19 fatality and the state’s seventh.
A woman who had travelled on the Ruby Princess cruise ship and was taken to the hospital and monitored under emergency supervision on March 19, has died due to the virus on Tuesday morning.
NSW Health said in a statement that the woman was among one of the first passengers who were confirmed to test positive with the virus.
The ship, which docked in Sydney last week, has been confirmed to have 133 diagnosed cases of the coronavirus since arriving in Sydney. Of these cases, 107 are from NSW, and 26 are from interstate.
In the 24 hours to 8:00 pm Monday, a total of 149 coronavirus infections were confirmed in NSW, taking the state's total to 818.
NSW health said no cases of the virus had been identified by doctors before passengers docked.
“Five people who had displayed influenza-like illness were tested in Wellington, New Zealand, on 14 March, and all were negative for COVID-19,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
It comes after passengers spent days in their communities before being asked to self-isolate following coronavirus detections on board.
On March 18, federal Health Minister Greg Hunt issued an emergency biosecurity order which prevents any cruise vessels from docking in Australia for the next month.
13 passenger cruise ships were still at sea at the time the order came into force, including the Ruby Princess.
On the other side of the world, 300 Australians are stranded throughout Peru after its country closed its border and enforced a nationwide curfew.
Those trying to scramble their way back home onto Australian soil are booking seats on potential commercial charter flights out of the country, although these are yet to be confirmed as all internal movements in many regional areas are prohibited.
Australia’s ambassador to Ecuador and Bolivia Diana Nelson took to social media to share a video message from Lima.
Ms Nelson assured citizens the government is trying to find ways to get Australia’s people home.
“We understand that this is an incredibly stressful and difficult time as we deal with these unprecedented circumstances.
"In Canberra, the government is working around the clock to find solutions to bring you home to Australia.
"And here in Peru our dedicated embassy team are liaising closely with Peruvian authorities, other embassies, airlines and travel companies.”