Another 46 foreigners from a coronavirus-infected cruise ship docked in Fremantle have shown signs of the disease, with those who have COVID-19 set to be treated at two private hospitals in Perth.

Key points: Infected passengers will be treated in Bethesda and Hollywood hospitals

Infected passengers will be treated in Bethesda and Hollywood hospitals Another 23 cases of coronavirus have taken WA's total to 278

Another 23 cases of coronavirus have taken WA's total to 278 Some Australians on another cruise ship have questioned quarantine plans

The Artania docked at Fremantle Port on Friday with 800 passengers and 500 crew on board after originally being told by the WA Government that it would not be allowed to do so.

Nine passengers and crew from the vessel tested positive for coronavirus and were taken to a Perth public hospital for treatment.

The State Government has now revealed a further 46 people from the ship are showing virus-type symptoms, with Premier Mark McGowan saying the situation had reached "crisis point".

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 48 seconds 1 m 48 s WA Premier reveals plans to treat COVID-19 Artania passengers in Perth private hospitals

He said they were undergoing tests for COVID-19 and any infected passengers would be transferred to secure wings at Bethesda and Hollywood private hospitals in Perth, paid for by the Federal Government.

Mr McGowan said a third passenger had also been evacuated from the ship for emergency medical reasons and all three were in intensive care in a critical condition, with two of them confirmed to have coronavirus.

"I have sought Commonwealth assistance to ensure WA public hospital beds are free and ready for Western Australians," he said.

"This morning I spoke with the Prime Minister and we agreed on an approach that minimises the impact on the West Australian health system and our wider community.

"I'm pleased to say the Commonwealth agrees this matter is their responsibility."

Charter flights organised for healthy passengers

Mr McGowan said the remaining healthy passengers from the Artania would be taken to Perth Airport and placed on four charter flights to Frankfurt in Germany.

A total of 46 Artania passengers and crew have virus-type symptoms, with nine already testing positive. ( ABC News: Marcus Alborn )

Those flights are expected to take place over the next 24 to 36 hours.

"All passengers who are able to travel home to Europe, to Germany, will be transferred under Australian Border Force and WA Police supervision to the airport," he said.

"These passengers will remain on the ship at all times until their transport and flights are ready.

"Passengers who are unable to travel on health advice will be identified and separated on board the ship."

The Premier said anyone in that group who tested positive would be transferred to one of the two private hospitals, while those who were cleared of coronavirus would also be flown out to Frankfurt.

"It means the majority of passengers will fly home and it means we can get this ship away from Western Australia," he said.

WA coronavirus total jumps by 23

WA Health Minister Roger Cook said another 23 people in the state had been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, taking the state's total to 278.

WA COVID-19 snapshot Confirmed cases so far: 665

Confirmed cases so far: 665 Recovered: 650

Recovered: 650 Deaths: 9

Deaths: 9 Total tests: 405,246 Latest information from the WA Health Department





Cruise ships were responsible for 16 of the new cases, including the nine people taken off the Artania, he said.

Four of the new cases have been recorded in regional areas — two in the Wheatbelt, one in the Great Southern and one in the South West.

Mr Cook said 14 people were being treated in hospital, with six of them in intensive care.

He said Hollywood and Bethesda would be able to handle the infected Artania passengers, saying Hollywood had "good ICU capacity".

"Obviously they'll need to take extra care, but they [both] have the capacity to deal with anyone with an infectious disease," he said.

"Each of the private hospitals is starting to wind up its elective surgery now, so they'll be ready to receive these patients."

Doctors question private hospital move

But Australian Medical Association president Andrew Miller said he did not understand why the infected passengers would not be sent to public hospitals.

"It's unclear to us the wisdom of putting them in private hospitals, which have not had any great time to prepare — even less time than the public hospitals," he said.

"In our view this looks a lot like a political decision rather than a health decision."

Dr Miller said public hospitals were far more advanced in dealing with coronavirus patients.

"I'm sure Bethesda and Hollywood as of yesterday were not expecting to be getting this quantity of patients," he said.

"This is news to all of the staff that work there. This is news to all of the other patients at those facilities.

"This seems to be planning on the run for what seems to have been a pretty predictable problem."

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Vasco da Gama passengers unhappy with Rottnest plan

The Artania is one of two cruise ships berthed at Fremantle, with Australians disembarking the Vasco da Gama set to be quarantined on Rottnest Island or in Perth hotels for two weeks.

But some of the 800 Australians on the Vasco da Gama, which also docked at Fremantle Port in WA on Friday, said they would prefer to stay on board.

Australians disembarking the Vasco da Gama will be quarantined on Rottnest Island and in Perth hotels. ( ABC News: Emily Piesse )

The ship was scheduled to berth on Monday but its arrival was brought forward so more than 100 New Zealand passengers could be flown home Saturday night.

Passenger Deborah Palacios said her time on the vessel had been "lovely" and she was not convinced Rottnest was the safest option.

"We're more scared about contact with the outside because we've been symptom free for 18 days and we feel like it's our private bubble, so it's been great," she said.

"All the Australians are just waiting for news about what's going to happen … we live about 7 kilometres from the port and we're more than ready to self-isolate at home, but they're not allowing that."

Vasco da Gama passenger Deborah Palacios says she would rather stay on the cruise ship. ( Supplied: Deborah Palacios )

Ms Palacios said there was no guarantee they would not become infected on Rottnest.

"The people that are going to be guarding us and catering for us, where's our guarantee that they haven't exposed?" she said.

"I understand the paranoia because a lot of people are not being responsible about self-isolation, but I'm not convinced that Rottnest is going to be any safer.

"I would absolutely prefer to stay on this ship. Right now, I feel like we're safer here than anywhere else."

Fellow passenger Lyn James said conditions on the ship were "as good as can be expected".

"People are a bit concerned about what's happening," she said.

"I would rather be going home to self-isolate but I know the Government seems to be doing the right thing and looking after everybody, so if that's what we have to do, that's what we have to do."