Two years on from Tasmania's COVID crisis in the north-west of the state, the town of Burnie has welcomed a cruise ship with infected passengers, with locals happy for the extra trade and tourists expressing confidence in the health measures being taken.
The Coral Princess — from the same cruise fleet as the notorious Ruby Princess — is currently in Burnie on a 28-day voyage around Australia which began in Sydney on October 11 and ends on November 8 in Sydney.
The ship, with around 2,000 passengers, is carrying a number of COVID-positive cases — who have been not allowed to disembark.
In March 2020, the Tasmanian region endured weeks of lockdown under what were at the time Australia's strictest restrictions, after an outbreak in a Burnie hospital.
The outbreak grew to 131 COVID-19 cases, was associated with a dozen deaths and forced the closure of two hospitals.
It sent more than 1,000 health care workers and thousands more close contacts into quarantine, before it was brought under control.
Military personnel were flown into the state to assist the Tasmanian response.
However, two years on, while nervousness about COVID remains, one local business owner is happy for the extra trade.
Restaurant owner and manager Lakia Katsikis said her eatery was "ridiculously busy" on Saturday.
"The risk of COVID does scare us, but we do our best, keeping all our staff vigilant.
"It's bringing a lot of people to Burnie which is amazing for business and keeping us happy and in a job."
Ian Jones, president of Business North-West in Burnie, said he had not had any calls from businesses concerned about the cruise ship arriving.
"Not only is it good for business but it provides a lot of activity and vibrancy in the immediate community, and it's great for the rest of the region," he said.
"There will always be some degree of nervousness in parts of the community, but I think as a whole Australia has got COVID pretty well under control.
"Many of the people on the ship, if they have it, they've probably had their vaccination so they're not going to suffer too badly I hope."
Tasmanian government health officials would not disclose the number of COVID-positive passengers the ship was hosting.
In a statement, cruise operator Princess Cruises said "as a result of continued and proactive testing, the COVID-19 situation onboard Coral Princess has improved considerably in recent days with a significant number of guests being released from isolation after returning a negative Rapid Antigen Test".
"We continue to monitor closely the small number of guests who continue to isolate and are being cared for in their stateroom by our medical and support staff. All cases on board have been asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. The vast majority of our 2,000 passengers are currently unimpacted.
"All guests who plan to go ashore in Burnie today must undertake a Rapid Antigen Test 24 hours prior to disembarking."
Giovanna Simpson, deputy mayor of Burnie, went on board the Coral Princess and toured the ship, describing the "protocols in place as second to none".
"We were getting tested as you get on and as you leave the ship, the people that do have COVID are staying in their cabin."
She said the "little bit of angst" gave way to the "excitement of having people back in Burnie".
Meanwhile, Coral Princess passengers John and Dorothy said they "weren't too worried about it".
"The cruise company took all the precautions, hand sanitising, hand washing, masks, socials distancing... and they enforced it," Dorothy said.
Carol, visiting from the US, said passengers "have to wear masks on the ship".
"Some of the Australians on board say it's vastly exaggerated in the media."
Bruce, from Sydney, also said he was confident all was being done to contain the disease.
"Every time we go ashore, we get tested, there are COVID tests at every port we have been in.
"It's not much of an issue at all."
The Coral Princess is scheduled to depart for Melbourne later on Saturday, on its way to its final destination Sydney.
