Stranded abroad

As many as 500,000 Canadians were out of country when pandemic was declared

Carol Parker of St. Catharines, Ont., has crossed the international dateline four times as the cruise ship she is on crisscrosses the South Pacific looking for a friendly port. Difat Jakubovicz, a doctor from Toronto, managed to squeeze aboard a plane run by a volunteer crew out of Morocco trying to get home to help with the pandemic.

They and many other travellers are in nervous limbo.

As the coronavirus spreads in this global pandemic, countries are closing their borders, flights are being halted and travel curtailed. Movement is difficult and frightening, if not dangerous.

There are more than 414,000 Canadians registered with Canada’s Registration of Canadians Abroad service. Registration is voluntary, so it is unlikely to be the full sum. It is unknown how many are

Cory Mowers is stuck in San Pedro Sula, in Honduras, with his cousin and stepfather. actively trying to return to Canada.

It appears their window to get home safely is closing fast

Parker is aboard the Norwegian Jewel, which was refuelling in America Samoa Wednesday after three countries closed their ports to the ship just as it was nearing, she said. The 2,300 passengers were supposed to be on a 23day journey through Australia and French Polynesia.

When the coronavirus pandemic was declared and travel restrictions tightened, the Norwegian Jewel turned to head for Auckland, New Zealand. Multiple port closures, however, left them in the lurch.

There is no sign of CODIV19 on board, Parker said.

“I’m writing a play about our experience in the South Pacific Twilight Zone. Weather is beautiful and seas are calm so far. We’re fine and well treated,” she said in an email to the National Post.

The ship is now expected to dock in Honolulu on March 22, the cruise line said.

“Our team is diligently working to confirm berthing for our fleet during this temporary pause,” a Norwegian spokeswoman said.

Jakubovicz, a medical doctor in Toronto, was in Morocco with her husband when its government halted international travel, both in and out of the North African country. She was desperate to get back to help patients in Canada.

There are thousands of Canadians registered as being in Morocco.

Several of Jakubovicz’s attempts to board flights failed as airlines shut down. The few flights filled up quickly. Hundreds of Canadians have been trying to get home, she said, including many who are elderly.

On Wednesday, Jakubovicz was fortunate.

“We managed to get on an Air France plane from Casablanca to Paris this morning. The crew was a volunteer,” she said in an email. Others stood in line for 10 hours but didn’t make it on.

They hope to fly from Paris to Canada on Thursday.

“There are still many Canadians stranded there who need to get out,” she said. She called on the Canadian government to do more to rescue others.