Costa Luminosa Suffers Coronavirus Outbreak While on Trans-Atlantic Trip

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on April 25, 2020

As countries and communities across the globe continue to grapple with the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic, many major cruise lines throughout the industry have been facing incredible backlash over their alleged mishandling of this deadly disease. The Carnival Corporation & plc has no-doubt been hit the hardest, with multiple cruise ships including the Diamond Princess, the Grand Princess, and now the Costa Luminosa, suffering serious outbreaks.

On March 5th, 2020, passengers and crew aboard the Costa Luminosa, an eleven-year-old “hybrid” cruise ship embarked from its current port-of-call in Fort Lauderdale for a multi-country, trans-Atlantic voyage ending in France. This luxury liner combines the most fantastic features from both the Spirit and Vista-class vessels. Unfortunately for vacationers and workers alike, the novel coronavirus decided to hitch a ride as well.

After making a quick pit stop at a neighboring country in Central America three days into the trip on March 8th, the Costa Luminosa steamed ahead towards its next destination across the ocean. However, unbeknownst to many on-board, a husband and wife couple that had disembarked at the previous stop in Puerto Rico were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

According to passenger statements acquired by CNN, it wasn’t until March 13th – five days later – that cruise ship officials finally informed everyone that the aforementioned wife who had already left the ship in Puerto Rico had indeed tested positive for COVID-19, and had since passed away. Shockingly, the trip continued. It was at this same time that ports around the world began to close, with many denying access to the Costa Luminosa for weeks. Finally, French authorities allowed passengers to disembark for a chartered flight from Marseille Provence Airport back to the United States, on the condition that they wear personal protective masks and gloves the entire way. This proved to be futile as many of the passengers that had been crammed into this incredibly confined space were already experiencing virus symptoms.

Upon their arrival at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world’s busiest airport, passengers were dumbfounded at the lack of preparations made for them. Although greeted at the gate by medical personnel dressed in hazmat suits, minimal health checks were distributed before “healthy” passengers were released to catch their connecting flights home. One witness even recalls an asymptomatic flier being allowed to roam freely around the terminal. “We were covered with virus from head to toe. We should not have been in the airport,” they said to CNN.

Sources:

• A Florida man dies days after hundreds of people exposed to coronavirus walked around the world’s busiest airport

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.