The Hong Kong Government may be over-reacting when it comes to business at the cruise terminals during the novel Coronavirus outbreak, writes Liza Cook.
Jeff Bent, the managing director of Worldwide Cruise Terminals, operator of the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, has urged the Hong Kong Government to re-open the city’s two cruise terminals that have been closed since early February, amid the outbreak of the Coronavirus, Covid-19.
Mr Bent said that it was unnecessary to keep the cruise terminals closed, especially in spring when most calls were made by foreign ships coming from foreign ports.
“A case-by-case risk-based assessment seems more suitable,” he said.
He pointed out that the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) had introduced new travels restrictions to enhance the safety of passengers and crew. CLIA comprise 90% of ocean-going cruise capacity worldwide.
“We have seen many travel restrictions applied quickly without a clear rationale behind them. We hope that travel restrictions will be lifted according to a scientific methodology.”
Mr Bent observed that the city had responded with more stringent measures to contain Covid-19 than it did for the SARS pandemic in 2003.
He noted that Kai Tak Cruise Terminal was designed with SARS in mind.
“Aside from the many temperature screening stations, there are many other design features, such as no public drinking fountains,” he said.
“As managers of this government facility, we upgraded to no-touch water / soap / towel equipment in passenger area restrooms last year; disinfect with bleach solution hourly during ship calls and after ship calls; check staff temperatures before duty; provide all our staff and contractors with face masks; and provide additional hand sanitizers in the terminal and other measures.”
Hong Kong suspended immigration services at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Ocean Terminal, after passengers of two cruise ships, the Carnival Corp-owned Diamond Princess and Genting Hong Kong’s World Dream, tested positive for the virus.
Diamond Princess was quarantined in Yokohama for more than two weeks. And passengers who have tested negative for the virus are now being released and repatriated. But the quarantine had been deemed a failure as more than one in five of the 3,700 passengers and crew have tested positive. Among the 364 passengers from Hong Kong, 65 had been infected. So far, two elderly passengers from Japan had died.
World Dream was quarantined in Hong Kong but passengers were released after several days after it was confirmed there were no cases on board.
The number of Covid-19 infections worldwide has risen to more than 79,000, with more than 2,600 deaths. Majority come from China, where the outbreak began late last year. The virus has since spread to at least 32 countries, with alarming outbreaks in South Korea, Italy and Iran.
Source:hongkongmaritimehub
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