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Malaysia, Thailand bar cruise ship over virus fears
AFP – Malaysia and Thailand have barred a cruise ship carrying about 2,000 people, including dozens of Italians, from docking because of fears about COVID-19, according to officials.
The Costa Fortuna was first turned away from the popular Thai holiday island of Phuket on Friday, despite there being no suspected virus cases aboard, according to its operator.
Thai authorities had imposed restrictions “on Italians that have transitted in Italy in the last 14 days”, Costa Cruises said.
The ship is carrying 64 Italians, according to Malaysian officials.
Italy has been hard hit by the virus with more than 230 fatalities, the most deaths from the disease of any country outside China, where the outbreak
began in December.
On Saturday, the vessel tried to dock in the northern Malaysian state of Penang but was also refused entry, said local politician Phee Boon Poh.
“The decision was taken as Malaysia had decided to restrict entry of all cruise ships to the country’s ports,” he said.
Phee added that after being denied entry by Malaysia, the ship was heading to neighbouring Singapore.
The case has similarities with that of the MS Westerdam, a cruise ship that was at sea for two weeks and was rejected by five countries over fears its passengers could have the virus. Cambodia finally allowed it to dock in Sihanoukville on Feb 13.
Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50699501/malaysia-thailand-bar-cruise-ship-over-virus-fears