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Woman from Canberra aged in her 60s reportedly caught virus on the cruise
She died at Canberra Hospital, is the third person in ACT to die from COVID-19
Her death was announced by ACT chief health officer on Wednesday
Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID

Published: 23:14 EDT, 14 April 2020 | Updated: 00:04 EDT, 15 April 2020

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Another Ruby Princess cruise ship passenger has died from coronavirus, taking Australia's death toll to 63.

The woman from Canberra aged in her 60s reportedly caught the virus on the cruise ship.

She died at Canberra Hospital, and is the third person to die from coronavirus in the Australian Capital Territory.

Her death was announced by ACT chief health officer Dr Kerryn Coleman on Wednesday.

Another Ruby Princess cruise ship (pictured) passenger has died from coronavirus , taking Australia's death toll to 63

Meanwhile, investigators tasked with delving into the Ruby Princess fiasco will be given unprecedented powers as part of a special commission.

Thousands of passengers from the coronavirus-infected ship were allowed to disembark in Sydney with no medical checks on March 19.

New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian vowed to leave 'no stone unturned' in the inquiry, surrounding the events which allowed the ship to dock unchecked.

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 6,445

New South Wales: 2,886

Victoria: 1,299

Queensland: 999

South Australia: 433

Western Australia: 532

Australian Capital Territory: 103

Tasmania: 165

Northern Territory: 28

TOTAL CASES: 6,445

RECOVERED: 3,624

DEAD: 63

So far, 19 passengers from the cruise liner had died of COVID-19.

Many more people in the community had become infected after coming into contact with passengers, who were allowed to disembark without any medical checks despite officials knowing there were many cases of illness onboard.

Around 700 of its passengers have since tested positive for COVID-19, with many more put at risk - accounting for around 10 per cent of all Australia's cases.

'The inquiry will be led by eminent barrister Bret Walker SC,' NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

'He has unlimited powers and he can use those powers how he wants to use them.

'That’s a matter for him.'

Mr Walker is one of Sydney's top lawyers, and only last week helped secure the release of his client, Cardinal George Pell, from prison after his sex abuse convictions were quashed.

The report into the Ruby Princess will be delivered to state officials within four months.

'I’m looking forward to that. Everybody wants answers, everybody wants to get to the bottom of that issue,' she said.

'It is important that answers are provided quickly for the people of NSW.'

Timeline of Ruby Princess fiasco

March 18: The Ruby Princess issues an urgent mayday call for an ambulance for two of its passengers presenting with coronavirus-like symptoms 24 hours before the ship is allowed to dock in Sydney.

March 19: The Ruby Princess arrives in Sydney Harbour. More than 2,700 guests are allowed to disembark without adequate health checks.

March 25: Australian Border Force Commissioner Michael Outram says New South Wales Health is responsible for letting coronavirus patients disembark the ship.

March 29: Several crew members are evacuated and taken to hospital after being diagnosed with coronavirus.

April 2: A 66-year-old crew member is taken off the Ruby Princess for medical treatment. More than 200 crew members are sick and in self-isolation.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian defends the actions of NSW Health and the Australian Border Force and points the finger at the Ruby Princess. She claims staff onboard may have misled NSW Health about the extent of illnesses in passengers.

April 3: Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton alleges Ruby Princess' operators weren't transparent about the health of crew: 'It was 'clear that some of the companies have been lying about the health of passengers and crew on board'.

April 4: Leaked emails show NSW Health knew of the coronavirus risk on board the Ruby Princess before allowing its thousands of passengers to disembark.

April 5: A criminal investigation is launched into how passengers were able to disembark without health checks

April 8: A team of 30 detectives from state crime, counter terrorism and marine area command start investigating the handling of the Ruby Princess coronavirus scandal. The first briefing into the investigation is held.

April 9: NSW Police clad in PPE equipment raid the vessel, questioning its captain and searching for evidence in a rapid escalation of the criminal investigation.

April 11: NSW Health confirms that at least 46 crew members of the Ruby Princess cruise ship have contracted COVID-19

April 13: NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller says patient zero on board may have been a crew member serving meals to hundreds of passengers

April 15: NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian announces an independent special commission to investigate the Ruby Princess fiasco

Another Ruby Princess cruise ship passenger dies from coronavirus taking Australia's toll to 63

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