German cruise ship leaves Australia after 3-week stay

A German liner leaving the Australian port of Fremantle was carrying 79 of Western Australia's 541 coronavirus cases. Three people from the ship died from COVID-19 after it had docked, including a 42-year-old Philippine male crew member who passed away on Friday.

Fremantle: The Artania cruise ship left the Australian port of Fremantle on Saturday, more than three weeks after it arrived, carrying dozens of sick passengers and crew.

Local media reported that some of the remaining passengers on board waved as the ship was leaving just after 1 pm (0500 GMT).

The German liner was carrying 79 of Western Australia's 541 coronavirus cases, according to local media.

Three people from the ship died from COVID-19 after it had docked, including a 42-year-old Philippine male crew member who passed away on Friday.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

According to local media, about 60 crew members were brought to a hotel in central Perth on Saturday morning to undergo COVID-19 monitoring.

The group is expected to fly out of Perth on Sunday.

The majority of the ship's foreign passengers were flown to Europe on charter flights weeks ago, but hundreds of crew remained on board in quarantine.

Australia has confirmed 6,539 COVID-19 cases and 67 deaths.

(With inputs from AP)