Backpackers staying in Western Australia and a cruise ship in crisis
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382656)
Rockingham, Australia
March 22, 2020 9:59pm CST
Our area of south-west Western Australia (WA) provides employment for a large number of backpackers. They are employed on orchards, vineyards and market gardens. Now, with the coronavirus, many have decided to stay in WA. For some, it’s doubtful if they could get back to their homes. Some think they are safer here. However, some are now finding it difficult to get jobs. The work is seasonal. Harvesting in orchards has almost finished and there are less opportunities for work.
In other news here, the mygov.com website has been hacked and a cruise ship with over 200 sick passengers is about to tie up in Fremantle. They are saying passengers won’t be allowed off. Does this mean they’ll send health workers on board? What a mess.
Photo is of local table grapes being grown under cover.
Edit: The government has now said they received misinformation from the cruise ship. There are no sick people on board after all. They also said the website wasn't hacked but crashed because of the number of hits it was receiving.
15 people like this
14 responses
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
23 Mar 20
Cruise ship passenger seem to have real trouble getting home. First they're confined on the ship 'cause one other passenger is sick, so they can't leave their cabins. Read about some being confined in the cabin since last week. Then there's no planes going to wherever country they belong, it's all a big mess.
1 person likes this
@Torunn (8606)
• Norway
23 Mar 20
@JudyEv They should check all ships I suppose, but quarantining them on land would probably be better than on the ships.
The husband of a friend of mine is supposed to sail out for 6 weeks tomorrow. He's cook on a big ship, but I don't think she really wants him to go to work this time.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382656)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
@rebelann Haha. I like you asking questions - particularly when I know the answer! It's to keep the birds out. A few still get in at doorways, etc but not many. The birds so a lot of damage to grapes, particularly the ones they want to sell as table grapes
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (136063)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Mar 20
@JudyEv No but they need care too. It just needs to be managed carefully.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382656)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
@wolfgirl569 I wonder if, when the cruise ships eventually make it 'home', whether they'll stay there till all this is over. I guess they will.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128856)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Mar 20
How could they have received misinformation about sick people on the cruise ship? The message should have been pretty clear....either they had sick passengers, or they didn't.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128856)
• Gainesville, Florida
24 Mar 20
@JudyEv I'm sure that's just the excuse they used with the public.
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@JudyEv (382656)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
They said communication with the ship wasn't good. No idea why it wouldn't have been. Maybe the government just needed a diversion! 
@snowy22315 (209213)
• United States
23 Mar 20
Thank goodness no sick people are onboard.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382656)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
What a headache it must be for the captain when something like this breaks out.
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
24 Mar 20
Good news about the cruise ship and we can all use good news these days.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222896)
• United States
23 Mar 20
So much confusion everywhere. I'm glad that the cruise ship passengers weren't sick. What will become of the backpackers?
1 person likes this
@SophiaMorros (5044)
• Belews Creek, North Carolina
23 Mar 20
My son and his fiancee both work in the tourism industry in Hawaii, a lot of jobs in many industries are at risk at the moment. My brother-in-law works in the auto industry and was laid-off last week. The potential economic impact of this is mind-boggling.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382656)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Mar 20
That is so true. So many are going to be out of work and few, in some industries, would have much in the way of savings. Our son (jazz musician) has absolutely no income coming in. (income coming in - haha) It's to be hoped the governments are able to come up with some help.
@happylife1 (13403)
• Karachi, Pakistan
23 Mar 20
definitey they will get some good arrangment for them
1 person likes this
