Updated March 23, 2020 15:11:58

Photo: The MSC Magnifica cruise ship has requested permission to dock in Fremantle to refuel. (ABC News: Fiona Blackwood)

A cruise ship with more than 250 ill people among its 1,700 passengers is headed for Perth and has requested to dock in Fremantle Port.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the cruise ship MSC Magnifica was due into Fremantle as early as tonight.

The arrival comes a day before the state plans to close all its borders to non-essential travel in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19

"Currently more than 250 passengers have reported upper respiratory illnesses," he said.

"I am advised all passengers are from overseas — Germany, France and Italy."

Mr McGowan said he had received advice from Federal Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton on Monday morning.

He said the overseas passengers would not be allowed off the ship, referring to the example of the Ruby Princess in Sydney, where passengers were allowed to disembark after docking at Circular Quay despite confirmed COVID-19 cases on board.

"I will not allow what happened in Sydney to happen here," Mr McGowan said.

"We will not allow passengers or crew to wander the streets. This is a non-negotiable position.

"Options are currently being developed between the Commonwealth, the defence forces and the State Government.

West Australians are facing a number of new measures in an effort to slow the spread of coronavirus. What does it mean if you have a holiday booked or you're trying to get back home?

"We'll work with medical authorities to provide assistance to those in urgent need.

"My first priority has to be protecting Western Australians, this is an emerging and evolving issue."

Mr McGowan said the State Government would work with the Commonwealth "throughout the day" to develop a plan in relation to the cruise ship which protects the state.

Six WA cases reported from Ruby Princess cruise ship

The number of coronavirus cases in Western Australia has increased by 20 overnight.

It brings the number of diagnosed cases to 140, including one death.

A total of 12 patients are in hospital and two are listed in a critical condition.

Of the new cases, six are passengers from the Ruby Princess cruise ship.

"That is passengers that returned to Western Australia via Sydney," Health Minister Roger Cook said.

"We also had one passenger from the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship."

Topics: infectious-diseases-other, respiratory-diseases, diseases-and-disorders, health, covid-19, states-and-territories, government-and-politics, perth-6000, fremantle-6160, wa

First posted March 23, 2020 14:54:26