Coronavirus ban: more than 100 Australian doctors and dentists stuck on cruise ship off Chile

Attendees at a medical conference cruise on the Roald Amundsen vessel have been prevented from disembarking due to Covid-19 restrictions.

News ID: 80490

Date: 17 March 2020 - 11:34

More than 100 Australian doctors and dentists are stuck on the Roald Amundsen cruise ship off the Chilean Port of Punta Arenas, which has been closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

More than 100 Australian doctors and dentists are trapped on board a cruise ship that is currently stuck off the coast of Chile after the country banned cruise ships from docking in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Roald Amundsen, owned by cruise company Hurtigruten, is one of several stranded off the Chilean port of Punta Arenas, and has a capacity of less than 500 passengers.

Chile has banned cruise vessels from docking until September after an elderly passenger on one cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus.

The country’s health minister, Jaime Mañalich announced the ban on Twitter on Sunday.