Malta: 1,700 Quarantined on Cruise Ship After COVID-19 Death

In the heart of Valletta’s Grand Harbour, the French cruise ship ‘Costa Fascinosa’ looms large, its 1,700 passengers and crew now confined to their cabins. The reason? A 90-year-old passenger, who had disembarked in Malta just days ago, has died from COVID-19. The ship, which was due to depart for Civitavecchia, Italy, is now under lockdown, with Maltese health authorities scrambling to trace and test those who came into contact with the deceased.

The elderly passenger, a French national, had arrived in Malta on February 29th, part of a group tour that visited the island’s historical sites and enjoyed its sunny climes. Little did they know that the virus had already taken hold, silently incubating in the man’s system. After a few days in Malta, the group boarded the Costa Fascinosa in La Valette, ready for their next port of call: Marseille, France.

But fate had other plans. The man fell ill during the voyage, and upon arrival in Marseille, he was rushed to hospital. He later died, becoming France’s first COVID-19 fatality. The ship, however, had already set sail for Civitavecchia, its next stop. It was here, off the Italian coast, that the grim news reached the captain, and the ship was ordered to return to Marseille.

Back in Malta, health authorities were quick to react. They traced the man’s movements during his stay, identifying and testing those he had come into contact with. Thankfully, all tests came back negative. But the potential risk to the 1,700 passengers and crew on the Costa Fascinosa was too great to ignore. The Maltese authorities, in collaboration with their French counterparts, decided to lockdown the ship until further notice.

For the passengers and crew, it’s a waiting game. They’re confined to their cabins, with meals delivered to their doors. The ship’s medical team is on high alert, ready to respond to any signs of illness. Meanwhile, Maltese and French health officials work together, trying to determine the extent of the outbreak and the best course of action.

This isn’t the first time Malta has found itself at the centre of a global health crisis. In 2002, the island was one of the first places outside Asia to report a case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). But with each crisis comes a chance to learn, to adapt, and to strengthen our health systems. And as the Costa Fascinosa sits anchored in the Grand Harbour, Malta is once again rising to the challenge.