Medico checks on Ruby Princess paperwork, not passengers

A NSW Health medical officer deemed the Ruby Princess cruise ship low-risk mainly because no passengers had been to countries with worrying COVID-19 outbreaks, an inquiry heard yesterday.

Communicable disease senior medical officer Sean Tobin was questioned yesterday as part of the commission of inquiry into the Ruby Princess.

The ship has been linked to more than 20 coronavirus deaths and 600 infections across Australia, including a cluster in Tasmania.

Dr Tobin, also the state’s chief human biosecurity officer, was one of several experts who gave the ill-fated ship permission via email to disembark at Circular Quay on March 18.

Counsel assisting Richard Beasley SC noted Dr Tobin had acknowledged the “fair number of passengers and crew presented with respiratory systems” when deciding on the low-risk rating.

But he had only seen the Ruby Princess’ pre-arrival risk assessment form, not the acute respiratory disease logs.

The pre-arrival form stated 2.7 per cent of passengers or crew had presented with respiratory illness but only 0.94 per cent had influenza-like illness, which met the low-risk criteria of less than 1 per cent.

Mr Beasley asked Dr Tobin if consideration was given to treat the 0.94 per cent by rounding it up to one as a precaution but Dr Tobin said he did not believe “the 1 per cent was a hard and fast rule”.

Commissioner Bret Walker SC said he thought it was “a bit odd” judgments were made without authorities having seen individual records.

The inquiry continues.