People wait around on the AIDAmira, an Italian registered cruise ship carrying mostly German passengers, as the ship is docked in Cape Town harbour, and is being quarantined due to several suspected COVID-19 cases on board, on March 18, 2020, in Cape Town. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)
Germany moves to evacuate Cape Town cruise ship passengers
A total of 1 243 German passengers were aboard the AIDAmira, quarantined off the coast of Cape Town after a crew member presented COVID-19 symptoms.
People wait around on the AIDAmira, an Italian registered cruise ship carrying mostly German passengers, as the ship is docked in Cape Town harbour, and is being quarantined due to several suspected COVID-19 cases on board, on March 18, 2020, in Cape Town. (Photo by RODGER BOSCH / AFP)
Germany has sent four chartered planes to repatriate its citizens who had been quarantined on a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Town.
More than 1 200 Germans were in the group of 1 700 passengers aboard the AIDAmira which was quarantined for days after a crew member developed COVID-19 symptoms.
Germany sends plans to collect cruise ship passengers
The ship, with its passengers, has been stationed on the coast since Sunday 15 March, with six people on board awaiting results after being tested for coronavirus. The tests have come back negative.
The quarantine was lifted on Wednesday and, on Friday, Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula that the German government had sent four planes to collect the passengers and fly them home.
“The crew will not be permitted to disembark but will await the arrival of the German nationals who will be escorted from the AIDAmira and onto the plane,” a transport department spokesperson said.
“The timelines will be confirmed by the German embassy; however, the planes’ permit numbers have already been issued.”
South Africa goes strict on cruise ships
The passengers who were tested for COVID-19 all returned negative results.
The ship’s quarantine was lifted just as the transport department issued out a blanket ban on incoming cruise ships in the wake of the pandemic.
“In terms of these regulations, no passenger vessels will be allowed in our ports. In essence, there is a total ban on cruise ships. This affects all leisure travellers. With effect from today, no cruise ships will be permitted to call into South African ports or will any be allowed to leave our shores,” Mbalula said on Wednesday.
This was after another cruise ship, the MSC Orchestra, left South African shores for Mozambique.
Mbalula said the ship will, on return, have to spend a few days as a quarantined vessel.
“There has been an unfortunate incident of the MSC Orchestra that despite the imposition of the ban left port headed for Pomene, Mozambique.
“This cruise liner understood clearly when they left today with passengers that by the time the ship returns, the ban will be in full force. This ship will be dealt with in terms of the new regulations and will have to be isolated as a quarantined vessel.”
Fikile Mbalula
The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in South Africa passed the 200-mark on Friday, with the number of known infected people now at 202.
Globally, more than 250 000 people have been infected, with over 10 000 deaths.
