A plane has been secured, but it’s still unclear when six cruise ship passengers exposed to the deadly hantavirus will arrive in Perth.
The $400 million COVID-era quarantine centre that has been sitting idle in Bullsbrook is on standby for the group, that’s expected to arrive this week and has been told they will need to isolate for at least three weeks.
They are currently in quarantine in a hotel in The Netherlands, with a departure date yet to be confirmed.
On Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it’s a complex operation due to refuelling and health requirements.
“The Australian Government has secured a suitable aircraft and is working to finalise the necessary clearances and approvals to ensure the fastest and safest journey to Australia,” a DFAT spokesperson said.
“Subject to those operational requirements, we are planning for a flight to arrive at RAAF Base Pearce later this week, with exact timings to be confirmed.”
Earlier, Premier Roger Cook said he was waiting for word from Canberra after confirmation that the flight’s pilot and crew will also be required to quarantine.
“I can imagine it would be hard to source the appropriate assets at this stage,” he said.
“Maybe there’s some reluctance on a pilot to be stuck on a plane, but I don’t think so. I just think it’s a matter of the Commonwealth working through their planning and preparation.”
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has confirmed the three-week quarantine may be extended, and defended Australia’s stricter quarantine rules as a “precautionary” approach.
“There is an incubation period of 42 days potentially for this virus, but that incubation or the risk of transmission obviously drops off after the first few weeks,” he said on Tuesday.
“So we’ll be seeking further advice from our chief health officers.”
A French woman who tested positive for hantavirus after disembarking from the MV Hondius is now in a critical condition.
Three people have died.
But though hantavirus has a high mortality rate, it is not as contagious as Covid.
Mr Cook has described the risk to the public from the Perth-bound group – that includes four Australian citizens, a permanent resident and a New Zealander – as “non-existant”.
“Because that’s the advice from the Chief Health Officer,” he said.
“Look, we just know that those people are still in the Netherlands. My understanding is that the Commonwealth is struggling to medically evacuate them.
“They are not unwell. They are not they are not displaying any symptoms.”