Virus-stricken cruise ship told to leave Australian waters

SYDNEY, Australia: A cruise ship stricken by a coronavirus outbreak was told Thursday to leave Australian waters, days after local infection numbers spiked when passengers on another vessel were allowed to disembark and roam freely around Sydney. Seven passengers have tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the Artania, which had been due to travel onward to South Africa but is now anchored near the port of Fremantle. Its operators say they are planning to fly the vessel’s mostly German passengers home from Australia on a chartered plane by Saturday. Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said he would ask the national government to call in the navy if the ship refused to move on from Australian waters.