Over 1,700 passengers aboard the AIDAmira cruise ship in the Cape Town Harbour have been prevented from disembarking as six passengers came into contact with a person displaying symptoms of the coronavirus. The ship left Walvis Bay on Friday 13 March and arrived in Cape Town on Sunday, 15 March.
According to a statement from Transnet, the six passengers on the ship were on the same flight as a sailor who has recently displayed symptoms of the coronavirus. These six people have been evacuated and taken for tests. The remaining passengers have to stay aboard the ship until the results are known.
Head of communications for Aida Cruises, Hansjörg Kunze said, ‘The guests have already been on board for one week without showing any symptoms. We have arranged flights accordingly to bring our guests home quickly. For this, however, we are lacking clearance of the local authorities.’
V&A Waterfront spokesperson Donald Kau confirmed the AIDAmira was awaiting clearance from the Health Department.
Another ship, a cargo carrier with the ironic name of MV Corona, is also under quarantine in Cape Town. Two of its crew members were also on the same flight as the six passengers aboard the cruise liner.
Transnet said that one of the sailors aboard the MV Corona did indeed display symptoms of the virus, but the other did not.
‘MV Corona left the port of Cape Town on Wednesday 11 March. On Friday 13 March, the master of this vessel contacted the maritime rescue co-ordination centre and the port health unit of the national department of health, confirming one crew member was exhibiting symptoms and requesting that the vessel return to the port of Cape Town for evacuation. Permission was granted by both authorities,’ Transnet said.
Source: TimesLive
Image: Twitter/TheEasyCadet
