A doctor on board the Ruby Princess failed to answer questions on an official document about the existence of common coronavirus symptoms among passengers ahead of the cruise ship's arrival in Sydney, an inquiry has been told.
Ilse Von Watzdorf had marked "no" in response to a question on a Maritime Arrivals Reporting System form about whether there were cases of gastroenteritis on the ship, a special commission of inquiry was told on Wednesday.
But another question on the form about difficulty breathing and persistent coughing symptoms had been left blank ahead of the ship's Sydney arrival on March 19 which has since been linked to 21 COVID-19 deaths and up to 600 infections.
When asked by commissioner Bret Walker SC about her responses on the form, noting that 24 passengers had reported high temperatures, Dr Von Watzdorf said she felt "disadvantaged" because she did not have access to the form during questioning.
The Ruby Princess cruise remains docked at Port Kembla, Wollongong. Source: AAP
But she suggested she would not have wanted at the time to convey there were no passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms on board.
Dr Von Watzdorf also told the inquiry's opening day she was surprised the ship was allowed to unload its 2,700 passengers before coronavirus test results were in.
"If it was my decision, I would've perhaps waited like the previous time," she said, responding to questions via video link from the ship docked in Port Kembla where she remains with hundreds of crew.
She confirmed illness on board the ship increased later in the trip and said a questionnaire was sent out to all passengers after acute respiratory and febrile conditions began to flare about 15 March.
Mr Walker asked Dr Von Watzdorf if it was correct to say there were no passengers showing COVID-19 symptoms late on 18 March and early on 19 March, to which the doctor replied no.
When asked about the signs of COVID-19 on the ship during the same time period, Dr Von Watzdorf said she did not have a one-word answer for the commissioner and said context was needed.
The inquiry will continue on Thursday. It is running parallel to a police probe that is expected to deliver its findings by September.
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay said there was a lack of transparency from the premier who failed to mention the commencement of the inquiry at her news conference hours before it began.
"The reason why I believe this has happened is because the Ruby Princess is being ordered off the coast of NSW tomorrow ... and there are people on board that vessel that need to give evidence," Ms McKay said on Wednesday.
About 57 crew members on Tuesday disembarked the ship and travelled to NSW hotels before being repatriated during the next three days on international charter flights.
A further 115 crew members from nine countries disembarked on Wednesday.
Of this group, 94 tested negative for coronavirus and were taken to either Sydney Airport or a hotel to await flights to their country of origin, NSW Police said in statement.
A total of 21 crew members who disembarked the ship have tested positive for COVID-19 and have been taken to hotels managed by NSW Health for a quarantine period of 14 days.
"Stringent protocols were maintained to ensure the movement of these individuals posed no risk to the public," NSW Police said.
Commissioner Mick Fuller on Wednesday said Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram had written to cruise ship company Carnival Australia directing the Ruby Princess to depart national waters by the end of Thursday.
"Nine individuals flew home last night, another 18 flying home today and the rest will fly home over the next two days," Commissioner Fuller said.
NSW Health is monitoring the situation.
The ship's captain is coronavirus-free and able to sail the vessel.
Most of the crew have remained in isolation on the ship and 190 of those on board had tested positive for COVID-19 as of Sunday night.
Another 12 seriously ill crew members infected with coronavirus have previously been taken to NSW hospitals.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with your family or household.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor (don’t visit) or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080. If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
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