Luxury superyacht at the centre of a Covid scandal in Queensland records ANOTHER infection - as police investigate whether the vessel was even allowed to dock

A coronavirus-infected superyacht that sparked panic and fury in Queensland has recorded another Covid case as police probe whether it had permission to dock.

The 'Lady E' yacht charter arrived in Cairns from the Maldives on Monday with 14 guests and six crew members on board. 

It costs AU$785,000 a week to hire the luxury liner, which includes seven rooms, a pool, a sauna and spa, a bar, a gym and an on-board masseuse and yoga teacher. 

A female crew member, in her 20s, tested positive to coronavirus and was placed in mandatory quarantine - as were all the other crew and guests.

Now a man aged in his 30s from the same vessel tested positive on Friday, Queensland Health has confirmed. 

 The 'Lady E' yacht charter arrived in Cairns from the Maldives on Monday and a female crew member in her 20s tested positive and was taken to hospital. A man aged in his 30s, has now been confirmed as the second person on the ship to have contracted the virus

Queensland Police are investigating whether the ship had permission to dock prior to the positive test. 

The Captain of the opulent charter, James Kennedy, spoke out on Thursday claiming the team are fully cooperating with health authorities, despite contrary reports.

He also said blood tests were being carried out to determine if the Covid test results were 'false positives'. 

Health authorities on Thursday said the crew has been less than forthcoming about their movements prior to their arrival. 

'The Queensland Police Service has commenced an investigation into a group of people who arrived in Queensland onboard a vessel,' a police spokesman said.  

'Fourteen people have been directed into 14-days hotel quarantine in Cairns and are undergoing mandatory COVID-19 testing.

'Six crew members remain on board the vessel for marine safety and have been directed to self-isolate.'  

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said she was 'extremely disappointed' the crew had not been cooperative with police. 

'We will leave that for the police to deal with, but we are very disappointed they are not co-operating and providing factual and correct information to the Queensland Police,' she told reporters on Thursday. 

A promotional image of the Lady E superyacht, which costs AU$785,000 per week to hire

But the Captain Kennedy claimed the crew were working closely with Queensland authorities.

'We are fully cooperating with the authorities and have followed all protocols before docking in Cairns and since arrival,' Mr Kennedy said in a statement.

'Our team have quarantined, undertaken all necessary Covid-19 tests and stand ready to provide whatever details the authorities deem necessary. We remain ready to comply in full.' 

Prior to departing the Maldives all crew were tested for Covid-19 and received negative tests on December 5, according the statement.

After casting off, the Lady E did not make any other stops after leaving the Maldives on route to Australia. 

Blood tests are now being carried out to determine if the two crew members may have revived 'false positives'.   

The outdoor dining area of the Lady E. It also includes seven rooms, a pool, a sauna and spa, a bar, a gym and an on-board masseuse and yoga teacher

Incoming passengers are screened by police as they arrive at the domestic terminal in Brisbane airport on Sunday

The two crew members had previously tested positive for Covid-19 before returning negative tests in the Maldives, the statement said.

'A subsequent blood test has been undertaken to determine whether these are the result of a 'false-positive' resulting from an old recovered case.'

Meanwhile Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the Covid case proved there were still risks in accepted international travellers.

'It is a lesson to us all that no matter how long they have been at sea (there's) a risk,' she said.

Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster has also spread to the Sunshine State, despite the Premier swiftly closing down the borders. 

A local man in his 40s travelled within the Northern Beaches before returning to Queensland and entering home quarantine.

On December 18 when the man returned home, he sought a Covid test which returned a negative result.

But while completing his mandatory home quarantine, he developed symptoms and sought a second test, which returned a positive reading. 

Dr Young commended the man for following strict self isolation protocols even after he initially tested negative, and said his actions could have potentially saved a catastrophic outbreak of Covid in Queensland

Sydney's Northern Beaches cluster has also spread to the Sunshine State, despite the Premier swiftly closing down the borders

Dr Young commended the man for following strict self isolation protocols even after he initially tested negative, and said his actions could have potentially saved a catastrophic outbreak of Covid in Queensland.

But she is still concerned that the deadly respiratory virus has crept across the border.

'I am concerned that we do have the virus in Queensland,' she admitted.

'We know there were a lot of people who have come back into Queensland from the Northern Beaches area and other parts of Sydney.'

Queensland recorded no new locally acquired coronavirus cases on Christmas Day.

Along with the latest yacht infection, a recent international arrival in hotel quarantine in Brisbane also tested positive for the virus.

Sewage tests at Wynnum, Bargara, and Bundaberg also returned positive results for COVID-19, and people in the areas with any sign of symptoms are being asked to get tested. 

The new cases brings Queensland's infection total to 1,240 so far, with 12 cases still active. More than 5200 people have been tested in the past 24 hours.

Police to investigate 'Lady E' superyacht's arrival into Cairns  

Police will investigate the route and details of the 'Lady E' superyacht which docked in Cairns on Monday December 21.

A young woman in her 20s tested positive to Covid on Thursday while in mandatory hotel quarantine after arriving in Queensland via the vessel earlier this week.

She was among 20 people - 14 guests and six crew - who entered Queensland waters from the Maldives on board.

But health authorities on Thursday said crews have been less than forthcoming about their movements prior to their arrival.

The government understands the ship travelled from the Maldives, but is unable to trace any other potential stops it made along the way before arriving in Cairns.

This will form part of the investigation into how Covid came to be on the ship after so long at sea.

All 14 guests were directed into hotel quarantine on arrival, while six crew members were granted exemptions to remain on board the ship for marine safety and to maintain it. 

They will now be tested for Covid. 

Hotel quarantine is a far cry from the luxury the guests have grown accustomed to on the superyacht, which boasts a marine basketball court, heated pool, sauna and spa room, on-board masseuse and yoga teacher.

Hiring the Lady E costs an estimated $USD595,000 per week. 

Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the crew have not been cooperative with police, which she described as 'extremely disappointing'. 

'We will leave that for the police to deal with, but we are very disappointed they are not co-operating and providing factual and correct information to the Queensland Police,' she told reporters on Thursday.     

'It is a lesson to us all that no matter how long they have been at sea (there's) a risk,' Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said.