ARCHIVED - Worries in Cartagena over cruise ship arriving from Italy next week

The Murcia government considers preventing passengers from disembarking in the Costa Cálida

Despite government calls for calm the level of alarm regarding the spread of the coronavirus in Spain is rising among members of the public, and in Cartagena considerable concern is being expressed over the scheduled arrival from Italy of a cruise ship carrying around 3,000 passengers on Wednesday 18^th March.

The regional government is reported to be considering preventing the passengers from disembarking in Cartagena in order to avoid the risk of contagion, or even requesting that its route be changed to exclude the Costa Cálida from its scheduled ports of call.

This was one of the topics addressed during a meeting between regional and national government representatives on Monday, when it was pointed out that even the shopkeepers in the old city centre of Cartagena, who usually stand to profit most from the arrival of large cruise ships in the city, could be forgiven for having misgivings about the sudden arrival of thousands of people from a country which is now effectively in quarantine.

In an effort to reassure the people of Cartagena, the Port Authority has reiterated that all of the protocols established by the health authorities are being implemented: when cruise ships dock a certificate must be supplied by the ship’s doctor guaranteeing that all passengers are in good health, a measure which theoretically ensures that no-one with symptoms leaves the ship. Before anyone sets foot in Cartagena the ship’s captain is required to send the certificate to the “Capitanía” department of the Port Authority along with all other necessary documentation, it was explained to the committee on Monday.

On the other hand, it is reported that the main bus and coach station in the city of Murcia continues to operate as usual, despite it having emerged that two of the nine people diagnosed with Covid-19 in Murcia travelled to the Region from Madrid by coach after a visit to the national capital. No services between Murcia and Madrid have been cancelled and unless specific instructions are received from the Ministry of Health the companies running them appear to have no intention of interrupting their normal activity.

What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus:

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.

The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to patients in the region's hospitals to just one visitor per patient.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel

- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!

- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity

- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

- Don´t panic!

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