Australia’s largest warship has been hit with a major outbreak of Covid-19, just days before it was due txjmtzywo arrive in Tonga on an aid mission.
Defence Minister Peter Dutton confirmed 23 cases of the virus had been detected on board at sea.
“We do have a situation on HMAS Adelaide at the moment, 23 personnel have tested positive to Covid,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.
“We’ll work with the Tongan authorities to keep that vessel at sea, to make sure there is no threat. Obviously the Tongan government is discussing that at the moment.”
The South Pacific Island, which was last week devastated following a volcanic eruption and tsunami, is effectively Covid free, reporting only one case of the virus since last October.
