Home beckoning after quarantine nightmare
A LAUNCESTON woman on a coronavirus-hit cruise ship in Japan is among more than 200 Australian passengers coming home aboard a flight set to leave Tokyo tomorrow.
Despite completing nearly two weeks in quarantine, those on board the Diamond Princess will be forced to spend another fortnight locked down at a repurposed mining accommodation village in Darwin.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison acknowledged Australians would feel “very frustrated” about further quarantine measures once back on home soil but said it was necessary.
“Our first responsibility is that we have to protect the health and safety of Australians in Australia today,” Mr Morrison said.
Alana Hoskinson, of Prospect, got the flu halfway through her cruise and as a result was one of the first to be tested when the coronavirus outbreak began on the ship. She and her travel companion Diana Headlam, of Hervey Bay, returned negative results.
Ms Hoskinson said she emailed the Department of Foreign Affairs once the pair were cleared and “begged” to be flown home for quarantine but her request was denied.
“We understand they’re worried, but they should have taken us off the ship when this first happened and we would only have two days to go,” she said. “It has been awful not knowing what is going to happen next. I don’t have any faith in the Australian Government to get us home but we don’t really have another choice.”
Anyone who chooses against taking the chartered Qantas flight will be denied entry to Australia until March 4 and could face further entry restrictions.
Ms Hoskinson boarded the ship docked in Yokohama on January 20 and was due to return to Tasmania on February 7.
“We’re isolated but the crew have gone out of their way to make us comfortable and keep us entertained,” she said.
“I was meant to do another cruise around the Pacific on February 23 but I’m not going to make it. I also had tickets for Elton John and Queen. It’s a big month to miss out on.”
As of last night, more than 350 passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess had tested positive for the coronavirus, including 24 Australians. About 340 passengers from the US were flown to a military air base in California yesterday.
They will all be subject to a 14-day quarantine upon landing.
Hong Kong, Canada and Italy have also announced plans to send flights for Diamond Princess passengers.
Diamond Princess captain Gennaro Arma acknowledged passengers’ concerns in an announcement yesterday.
“We fully understand that recent developments could mean a few more laps for you in this race to the finish line,” he said of the approaching quarantine deadline.
He said the common goal for everyone left on board was to “protect our health, stay safe, and return home to our loved ones as soon as we can”.
The viral outbreak has now infected more than 71,000 people across the world, including 15 in Australia.