coronavirus in south africa

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows the MSC Orchestra cruise ship leaving the Durban harbour. – Tougher travel restrictions are now in place for South Africa as the government deals with the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all international arrivals. South Africa currently has 6 confirmed and verified cases of coronavirus while no deaths have been reported yet. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

Get them found: Health officials desperately searching for cruise travellers

If you’ve been on a cruise in the past month or so, there’s a good chance that the Health Department want you to contact them asap.

coronavirus in south africa

A picture taken on March 16, 2020 shows the MSC Orchestra cruise ship leaving the Durban harbour. – Tougher travel restrictions are now in place for South Africa as the government deals with the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including a mandatory 14-day quarantine period for all international arrivals. South Africa currently has 6 confirmed and verified cases of coronavirus while no deaths have been reported yet. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

The Health Department has issued a frantic plea to cruise travellers this week, asking a number of holidaymakers to urgently contact their tracing teams. Coronavirus cases in South Africa have been traced to a popular vessel which has been travelling from Durban in the past month or so.

MSC Orchestra patients sought

The MSC Orchestra has embarked upon multiple trips in the past few weeks, but the passengers on board are now being summoned by the highly concerned government officials:

“We’ve previously received reports of two confirmed coronavirus cases on board the MSC Orchestra cruise liner. These cases are from KZN and Free State. Hence, we need to make an important announcement…

“If you were part of the MSC Orchestra cruises, please know that you are a contact and the Department of Health is looking for you. Please get in touch with our departments in KZN and Free State. Elsewhere, aboard the Queen Mary 2, 26 people were tested for coronavirus but all results came back negative. The ship has now continued its journey.”

Health Department

Who the government are looking for, and why:

  • Passengers on board the MSC Orchestra cruise liner which left Durban on 28 February 2020 have been asked to come forward.
  • The same applies for travellers on board the MSC Orchestra cruise liner (same vessel) which went to sea on 13 March and returned on 16 March.
  • Two positive coronavirus cases have been tracked to this ship and its previous occupants.
  • The Queen Mary 2 was denied entry to Durban’s port, but six South African crew members were allowed to leave the ship and have since been quarantined, after some passengers developed mild coronavirus symptoms.