Coronavirus-infected Australian cruise ship arrives at Montevideo port
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Of the 217 people aboard the Greg Mortimer, 128 have tested positive for the coronavirus.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MONTEVIDEO (AFP) - More than 100 Australians and New Zealanders left Uruguay aboard a specially chartered flight after two weeks stranded aboard a virus-infected cruise ship, Montevideo's Carrasco airport said in the early hours of Saturday (April 11).
Of 217 people aboard the Greg Mortimer liner, 128 had tested positive for new coronavirus and had been blocked from docking.
An agreement between the Uruguayan and Australian governments was made to create a "sanitary corridor" to take the mostly elderly tourists from Montevideo's port to its international airport where they boarded a flight for Melbourne.
Of 217 people aboard the Greg Mortimer liner, 128 had tested positive for new coronavirus and had been blocked from docking.
An agreement between the Uruguayan and Australian governments was made to create a "sanitary corridor" to take the mostly elderly tourists from Montevideo's port to its international airport where they boarded a flight for Melbourne.
The Australian cruise ship, stranded off the coast of Uruguay for two weeks, arrived at the port of Montevideo on Friday.
The tourists were on an expedition to Antarctica, South Georgia and Elephant Island when their adventure was called off due to the nearest South American countries - Argentina and Chile - closing their borders and imposing lockdowns.
The ship travelled to Montevideo as it was the nearest port still open. It had been anchored in the Rio de la Plata since March 27.
