Daughter of Burnley woman demands to know why her mum and other British passengers not being tested after leaving coronavirus hit cruise liner today

The daughter of a Burnley grandmother, who was quarantined on the coronavirus hit cruise liner Grand Princess has spoken of her frustration with the way her 78-year-old mum has been treated and the lack of information for worried families.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Lynsey Vickers appeared on BBC Breakfast News this morning to speak of the family's ordeal after her mum, Margaret Bartlett, was among the 140 Britons stranded on the ill fated liner for six days when 21 people contracted the virus.

Margaret is due to arrive back home today after being put on a plane at San Francisco Airport last night. But Lynsey revealed that neither her mum, her friend who she is travelling with or any of the other Brits, have not been tested for the virus and they have simply been advised to self isolate when whey arrive home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lynsey said: "Mum lives on her own and the logistics are going to be so hard to implement.

Margaret Bartlett is due back home in Burnley today after being quaratined for six days aboard the coronavirus hit Grand Princess cruise liner in America.Margaret Bartlett is due back home in Burnley today after being quaratined for six days aboard the coronavirus hit Grand Princess cruise liner in America.
Margaret Bartlett is due back home in Burnley today after being quaratined for six days aboard the coronavirus hit Grand Princess cruise liner in America.

“I have two children who want to see and hug her. But that will not be possible. It really is going to be difficult."

Lynsey told viewers of her frustration at the lack of information being given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who she has been in constant touch with by email.

She said: "As the passengers disembarked they went through screening and temperature taking so I asked the FCO what happens if they have a temperature and they said they don't know the procedure for the US authorities as passengers are on American soil.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I have been told that as the flight is not commercial conditions will be basic on board but there will be medical crew who will monitor the health of passengers and they are equipped to isolate anyone who shows symptoms.

"But why would the Foreign and Commonwealth Office not test everyone for the virus when they arrive back in England?"

The plane is due to land in Birmingham and once one British soil the Public Health England will step in to offer support and advice as passengers begin a two week self isolation period.

Lynsey said her mum had kept in good spirits througout the ordeal and was full of praise for the crew who she said had been 'amazing' in taking care of passengers.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Lynsey added: "Our thoughts go with the crew who have worked the 'week from hell' yet still tried to ensure, as much as they possibly could, that passengers were cared for.

"My mum wanted me to get this message across because the crew were suffering as much as the passengers with lack of information and not knowing what was going on."

Although vital medication Margaret needs for three conditions she was suffers from were delivered safely on board, thanks to help from the British Consulate on San Francisco, it never reached her cabin so the Grand Princess nurse stepped in and provided some from the ship's supplies.

Related topics: