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Updated: MSC Opera sails on after unfounded coronavirus fears

MSC Opera has docked in the port of Corfu, Greece, after originally being asked to stay on board.

An Austrian passenger from a previous cruise, who had returned through northern Italy, tested positive for coronavirus, but none of the 1,579 passengers or 723 crew members had any flu-like symptoms.

All were allowed to disembark, and no one was quarantined, MSC Cruises said.

Health officials in Corfu boarded the ship to review its medical records and deemed the vessel needed no further health measures beyond the ship’s existing strict preventatitve health measures.

Austrian health authorities had informed the line of the test results of the passenger who cruised in the east Mediterranean from February 17 to 28 on the 2,142-passenger ship.

MSC originally told passengers to remain on the vessel after requesting guidance from Greek health authorities.


More: Coronavirus: MSC Meravgilia turned away from Caribbean ports

Coronavirus: Travel agents and tour operators call for unified response to outbreak


Last week MSC Meraviglia was denied entry to Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and George Town, Grand Cayman Island, over fears a crew member had coronavirus even though tests had showed they had Type A influenza.

The ship later was finally allowed to dock in Cozumel, Mexico and the line issued an apology to passengers for the missed ports of call.


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