Riverina MP Michael McCormack has informed health authorities that passengers from a cruise ship arrived in Wagga amid growing outcry that arrivals at risk of coronavirus were allowed to disembark in Sydney.
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About 2700 passengers departed the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney last week and were allowed to proceed to board buses, trains and flights across Australia.
More than 130 passengers from the Ruby Princess have now tested positive for coronavirus and one 70-year-old woman has died in Sydney.
During a press conference on Wednesday morning, Mr McCormack addressed rumours that up to 20 passengers from a different cruise ship had arrived in Wagga but were not in isolation.
"I have heard that some people from a cruise ship have arrived in Wagga," Mr McCormack said.
"I have notified the Murrumbidgee Local Health District this morning. They have been in touch with the bus company to ensure that those people were given instructions when they boarded the bus, before they were dropped off, to ensure they self isolated.
"This is being followed up by the health district, I know that as a fact."
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Mr McCormack urged the cruise ship passengers and other arrivals in Wagga to self isolate.
"I would say to those people, if they are someone who has stepped off a boat or stepped off a plane: self isolate, don't leave home. It's pretty simple."
The NSW government and the federal government have blamed each other for the Ruby Princess incident, which caused a nine per cent increase to the state's positive results for coronavirus.
"Unfortunately, NSW Health was responsible for those people disembarking that vessel," Mr McCormack said.
Mr McCormack did not directly address claims reportedly made by senior NSW ministers that the Australian Border Force federal agency was responsible.
"I don't want to get into the culpability or not," Mr McCormack said.
"The fact is that those people disembarked and the fact is those people have not followed the rules, they have not self isolated and that is disappointing.
"That's really, really disappointing for those people have to shown flagrant disregard for fellow Australians.
"If you are told to self isolate then for God's sake do it. It's pretty easy."
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