Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1228170
WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT WEDNESDAY EDITION €1.00 WEDNESDAY • 1 APRIL 2020 • ISSUE 681 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY EDITORIAL • PAGE 11 PAGE 3 Maltese couple on cruise liner so far denied permission to disembark KURT SANSONE TWO Maltese nationals on an aborted cruise have, so far, been denied disembarkation in Malta when the ship passes by the is- lands on its way back to the UK. The cruise ship, Columbus, operated by CMV is returning to its homeport in Tilbury after the company cancelled all cruis- es on 14 March. The couple, Marthese Bonello and Joseph Mercieca, both 70, boarded the Columbus on 25 February from Sydney, Austral- ia. But the 48-day cruise off South East Asia was truncated two weeks ago as the corona- virus pandemic shut ports and stopped travel. The ship has since been on a non-stop return voyage to Til- bury, and until yesterday was in the Red Sea on its way to the Su- ez Canal, where it will enter the Mediterranean. MaltaToday is informed that the Columbus is expected to ar- rive off Malta on 6 April and will refuel at sea. The ship has requested the Maltese port authorities to al- low Bonello and Mercieca to disembark when the vessel stops off the islands. They are the only Maltese passengers on board. Transport Minister Ian Borg told MaltaToday that the re- quest has, so far, been denied by Transport Malta, the shipping regulator. The cruise liner is being pro- vided with bunkering services outside Maltese territorial wa- ters to enable the vessel to con- tinue its passage to the final des- tination, Borg said. The regulator has informed the ship that the transfer of pas- sengers is not permitted in line with Legal Notice 92 of 2020 is- sued by Health Authorities and in this respect the request for disembarkation has been de- nied. However, Borg said talks were underway between different ministries to try and find a solu- tion for the two passengers. Foreign Minister Evarist Bar- tolo said that "within the dif- ficult context of Covid-19, the issue is complicated because of public health considerations" but confirmed that discussions were ongoing. PAGE 4 PAGE 4 Coronavirus 13 new cases bring local total to 169 KURT SANSONE MATER Dei Hospital is exploring the transfer of some medical services to the adjacent university campus to cre- ate more space for coronavirus beds if the need arises. The Columbus in Grand Harbour (File photo) Coronavirus Non-essential travel between Malta and Gozo stopped MASSIMO COSTA ALL travel between Malta and Gozo, except for specific reasons, has been restricted in a bid to prevent Covid-19 from spreading further. Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri said on Tuesday that all travel between the two islands would be prohibited unless for specific purposes. Mater Dei may relocate services to university to make space for more Covid-19 beds