No coronavirus on cruise ship docked in Sydney

Australian health authorities have confirmed no one on the cruise shipped docked in Sydney has coronavirus.

The Australian reported on Friday afternoon that the Norwegian Jewel was briefly locked down while a Singaporean passenger was tested for coronavirus. 

The test has returned negative says New South Wales Health.

"One passenger was tested for a range of respiratory illnesses, including CoVID-19 and influenza. The test results were negative to CoVID-19," it said in a statement.

 

New South Wales Health announced all passengers were tested as a precaution despite none of them being in China in the past two weeks.

There are currently 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia. More than 60,000 people worldwide have the deadly illness, while 1300 have died.

The coronavirus, now known as Covid-19, originated in the city of Wuhan in China's Hubei province late last year. 

It's thought the disease spread from animals to humans in a live food market. 

Since the virus broke out, it has spread to more than 25 countries, but just two people outside of China have died from it. One man died in Hong Kong and another in the Philippines. 

The virus causes fever, coughing, respiratory distress and pneumonia. In severe cases, it can lead to organ failure and death.