Face of Nation International : The Artania has been directed by the Australian Border Force (ABF) to depart Fremantle, but its crew has responded by saying they want to remain for another two weeks.
The ship still has 450 crew and about a dozen passengers on board, with the rest flown home on charter flights to Germany over the weekend. None of the passengers or crew from the vessel are Australian.
A total of 41 passengers and crew from the Artania are already being treated in West Australian hospitals for COVID-19, with several in life-threatening situations.
Health authorities are concerned there could be scores of further infections from the passengers and crew left on the ship, a situation that could put increased strain on the WA hospital system. It is understood the Artania’s crew has written to the ABF asking to remain in Fremantle until April 14 and also requesting a thorough cleaning of the ship.
The two-week timeframe requested by the vessel is being seen as a way to determine whether anyone still on board has coronavirus and to ensure they can be treated if they do. (Source: ABC News – Australia)
