‘We’ve been caged up for so long, we just want to put this horror behind us’
LORRAINE OLIVEIRA was stuck on the Westerdam cruise ship with her husband, Carlos, and two children, Jonathan, 16, and Aoife, nine, when the vessel was left stranded at sea as ports denied entry over coronavirus fears. The psychotherapist and her family had gone on holiday hoping to explore Asia. Now back home in the Wirral, Lorraine tells how the family is coping with quarantine and relying on their eldest daughter Niamh, 21, to bring them supplies.
We contacted our travel company the day before we left home but were told to go ahead with our cruise as we would not receive a refund – despite reports in the news about Covid-19 spreading.
On board the Westerdam we had our temperatures taken and felt safer. But soon the itinerary was changed, with stop-offs cancelled. News was breaking about more positive cases and a few days later the captain announced that our cruise was cancelled. After being refused permission to dock by Guam and Thailand, we disembarked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia. We spent Valentine’s day on the beach.
We could not fly home because a passenger had tested positive in Kuala Lumpur. We remained on board for a further four days, had tests and were elated when results were negative.
Finally, on Feb 19 we were allowed off and went to Phnom Penh. The next morning we flew home. We contacted Public Health England and were told we did not have to self-quarantine, but that afternoon they phoned back to say we should. We were disappointed as we had been caged up for so long.
We are now nine of 14 days in. Our days consist of the children doing homework, watching television, cooking meals, answering emails – so far from the busy lives we usually live.
It can be tense. Niamh, who is staying with her boyfriend, is doing the shopping. She is dropping off on our porch fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, and the main essentials. She’s also picking up work from school for my youngest daughter.
My son is in quarantine for his birthday today. We cannot work and, as a self-employed psychotherapist, this financial loss is a terrible stress. I have tried to arrange appointments for after our quarantine period ends, but some clients are very apprehensive. We just want to get back to normal with as little disruption as possible and put this horror behind us.