More than 6,000 guests and 1600 crew members have been put on lockdown today on the cruise ship Costa Smeralda after a suspected case of coronavirus was detected onboard Costa Cruises flagship. Costa Smeralda is in the port of Civitavecchia and is undergoing checks by Italian health authorities.
The emergency started when a woman from Macau, China, came down with a fever and respiratory problems, raising fears she had contracted the coronavirus. Her partner did not present any symptoms however they were bout isolated in the ship's medical facilities.
The couple arrived in Italy at Milan's Malpensa Airport from Hong Kong on January 25. They boarded the ship Costa Smeralda in Savona earlier this week.
Costa Cruises released the following statement:
“Our priority is to ensure the health and safety of our guests and crew. The company is cooperating with the health authorities and will strictly follow their instructions. Costa cruises apply the relevant procedures provided in these cases by the international and Italian health authorities. The ship currently docked in Civitavecchia came from Palma de Mallorca and is sailing one-week cruises in the western Mediterranean. Costa Cruises confirms that it has activated the health protocol for a suspected case relating to a guest from Macau currently onboard Costa Smeralda".
"The 54-year-old woman was placed in isolation in the on-board hospital last night, together with her travel companion. As soon as the suspected case was detected, the onboard medical staff immediately activated the health procedures provided in these cases. They immediately informed health authorities which are currently onboard to carry out the necessary checks."
Medical teams took samples of the two patients and sent them for testing to Spallanzani Institute in Rome where the results of the samples will be available this afternoon.
Update: The tests carried out on the suspected cases of coronavirus among the two passengers sailing on the cruise ship Costa Smeralda are negative, reports Rai News.
