Nearly 60% Of Passengers On Antarctic Cruise Test Positive For Coronavirus

Authorities in Uruguay are preparing to evacuate some of the passengers stranded on a cruise ship after nearly 60% of the people on board contracted COVID-19. There were 217 passengers and crew members on the boat, and 128 of them were diagnosed with the coronavirus.

The Greg Mortimer, a cruise ship run by Aurora Expeditions, departed on March 15 on a voyage to Antarctica and South Georgia. The ship has been stranded since early April after officials in Uruguay refused to allow them to dock due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Six patients who required immediate medical attention where airlifted to hospitals in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. The government arranged for a medical flight evacuation of passengers from New Zealand and Australia. They will be flown to Melbourne, where they will stay in a mandated 14-day quarantine.

Passengers from Europe and America who have tested positive for COVID-19 must remain on the ship until their test results come back negative.

Aurora Expeditions said they will be retesting passengers every two or three days.

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Photo: Getty Images


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