Thread by @abc730

#Coronavirus and #cruiseships are a massive problem for authorities. There are currently two cruise ships off the WA coast with 2,700 passengers. And 3,000 are Australians stranded on 25 cruise ships around the world, with nowhere to dock. #abc730 @jason_om #covid19australia

Retired teachers Julie Turnbull and Maria Manera are among 1,500 passengers and crew on board the Costa Victoria, and the ship is headed for Italy where nearly 7,000 people have died. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19Aus #cruiseships

Passengers are now largely isolated to their cabins after the ship’s first case of #coronavirus was diagnosed this week. #abc730 #COVID19Aus #cruiseships

Helen and Eddie Pawlowitsch were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on board the Azamara Pursuit in South America. But Chilean authorities wouldn’t let the ship dock. Now they’re heading to Miami. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19Aus #cruiseships

“When we first came to this cabin we thought it was all very large, but now after three weeks it feels like it’s all very small and we feel like it’s closing in on us.” Helen Pawlowitsch. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19Aus

Even #cruiseships with no confirmed cases are considered a potential threat because they’re an ideal environment for spreading #coronavirus. #abc730 #COVID19Aus

Findings show #coronavirus survived on cabin surfaces for 17 days after passengers were evacuated from the Diamond Princess, which was quarantined off the coast of Japan last month. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19Aus #cruiseships

The Australian government is now monitoring plans to have the passengers on the Costa Victoria disembark near Rome. #abc730 #coronavirus #COVID19Aus #cruiseships