By Canadian Press

Canadian cruisers begin leaving Coral Princess in Florida amid COVID-19 outbreak

Apr 6, 2020 | 10:42 AM

OTTAWA — Canadians began leaving the COVID-19-stricken Coral Princess cruise ship on Monday, after the ship reached Florida late last week.

There were 97 Canadian passengers aboard the ship, which left Santiago, Chile, on March 5 and docked in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Friday.

The Canadian Press has been told by at least two couples travelling on the ship that passengers had been allowed to leave the ship and were on a bus headed for the airport.

Gary and Sue Lyon said in an email they were on bus waiting to board a charter flight to Toronto via Columbus and Newark.

North Vancouver resident Sanford Osler, who was travelling with his wife, spoke to The Canadian Press by telephone from the bus, and said all passengers were wearing masks and gloves, and that he felt physically healthy.

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Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said Sunday on Twitter that Canadians on the Coral Princess who don’t have COVID-19 symptoms would be able to return home on a charter aircraft.

“Upon arrival they will be screened again and subject to a mandatory 14-day self isolation,” Champagne tweeted.

The department said it is monitoring the progress 49 Canadians and eight crew members on seven other ships.

The department says it is not aware that any of them have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The ships are the MS Albatros, Viking Sun, MV Columbus, Costa Deliziosa, Pacific Princess, MSC Magnifica, and the Queen Mary 2.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is telling Canadians to avoid travelling on cruise ships, but delivered that firm warning March 9, a few days after the Coral Princess set sail.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 6, 2020.

The Canadian Press