Coronavirus: Fear as Australian cruise ship set to dock in Italy

‘This is a death sentence’: Hundreds of elderly Australians on board a cruise ship that’s set to dock in ITALY fear they are being taken there to die

  • Hundreds of elderly Australians are set to dock in coronavirus-stricken Italy 
  • Costa Victoria has already been denied entry into ports in Asia and Europe 
  • But the cruise liner will carry out emergency docking in Venice on March 28 
  • Passengers have been advised to leave the ship when it arrives in Italian city
  • Family members expressed their concern passengers could catch disease
  • Relatives said if they do they’ll be refused treatment by Italian medical system
  • Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?

Hundreds of elderly Australians are terrified that they will catch the coronavirus and die as their cruise ship prepares to dock in Italy. 

The Costa Victoria has already been denied entry into ports in both Asia and Europe including Croatia, the UAE and Israel.

But the cruise liner will carry out an emergency docking in Venice on March 28 despite Italy’s coronavirus death toll reaching 3,405 – overtaking China’s tally on Friday.

Australian couple Joanne and Iain Martin-Blakey are among the believed 250 Australians concerned for their well-being as their cruise ship prepares to dock in coronavirus-hit Italy

There are believed to be up to 250 Australians on-board the cruise ship, whose passengers are mostly over the age of 65. 

Lauren Petrovic said her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were on the cruise ship said the passengers ‘will have no right to medical assistance if they fall ill’.

‘This obviously is a death sentence if they are to be let off here without assistance or any avenue to safely come home to Australia,’ Ms Petrovic wrote on Facebook.

‘They will be potentially left to die.’

Among the elderly Australians on board is Alana Hitch, 74, from the Sunshine Coast, whose daughter Rachael told the Courier-Mail she could not understand the decision to dock with passengers in Venice.

‘I know the Costa Victoria is an Italian ship but dumping elderly Australian passengers in Venice seems like pure madness,’ the daughter said.

Joanne Martin-Blakey from the Gold Coast, said the cruise operator was threatening passengers' health in an SOS-style post on social media

Joanne Martin-Blakey from the Gold Coast, said the cruise operator was threatening passengers’ health in an SOS-style post on social media

Coronavirus has killed more people in Italy than in any other country, after deaths there rose by 427 in a day.  

A lockdown imposed on 12 March in Italy has been extended beyond the original 25 March end date. Nearly all Italians have been told to stay at home. 

Australians docking in Italy will be able to fly home but will need to complete necessary paperwork.  

Italian-based Costa Cruises said in a statement that passengers are being urged to leave the ship when it docks in Venice next Saturday.

‘The itinerary of Costa Victoria was modified given the pandemic alert issued by the World Health Organisation which brought local authorities to apply restrictions for the disembarkation of our guests compromising their cruise experience onboard,’ a spokesperson said.

Relative Lauren Petrovic (pictured) said her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were on-board

Relative Lauren Petrovic (pictured) said her mother-in-law and sister-in-law were on-board

'This obviously is a death sentence,' Ms Petrovic wrote on Facebook

‘This obviously is a death sentence,’ Ms Petrovic wrote on Facebook

There are believed to be up to 250 Australians on-board the cruise ship, whose passengers are mostly over the age of 65

There are believed to be up to 250 Australians on-board the cruise ship, whose passengers are mostly over the age of 65

Ms Petrovic shared a message sent to her by her relative expressing concern for the health of elderly passengers

Ms Petrovic shared a message sent to her by her relative expressing concern for the health of elderly passengers

‘Most likely, despite all the efforts made to readjust the program, the only viable itinerary for Costa Victoria at present is to perform technical calls whenever it will be allowed and go straight to the designated port of disembarkation Venice on March, 28th.’

CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 710

New South Wales: 307

Victoria: 150

Queensland: 144

Western Australia: 52 

South Australia: 42 

Tasmania: 10

Australian Capital Territory: 4 

Northern Territory: 1  

TOTAL CASES:  710

DEAD: 6

Another passenger, Joanne Martin-Blakey from the Gold Coast, said the cruise operator was threatening the well-being of a healthy ship as she shared an SOS-style post on social media.

‘What country is going to accept us after being in Italy?’ she said.

‘We are being forced into the epicentre of COVID-19 and we are all healthy on this ship but are now being put at risk.’ 

Corina Maplesden, from the Central Coast, described the mood as ‘calm but concerned’.

‘There are 250 of us Aussies on Costa Victoria with no information and nothing from the captain other than we’re being sent to Venice on 28th March. Most have heard nothing from our travel agents either,’ she wrote on Twitter.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk