Islanders and visitors alike can expect serious travel disruption on Wightlink’s Fishbourne route this weekend due to the absence of an essential member of crew.
It has been confirmed that the 14:00, 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00 sailings from Portsmouth and the 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00 sailings from Fishbourne have been cancelled on both Saturday (21st March) and Sunday (22nd March).
Wightlink have not expanded on the reason for the absence, but it is assumed staff are self isolating resulting in a lack of workforce.
The news comes off the back of cancellations on the route today, as well as cancellations on Wightlink’s Yarmouth route today and tomorrow.
Pubs are shut, cafes are shut but the hotels on the iow are still open and loads of people from the mainland coming over here. This can not be right . See 5 coaches coming in today, that’s 250 people with potential viruses !
Or 250 people without the virus bringing essential trade at this difficult time.
You don’t understand, do you? It’s almost mediaeval to say this: because I can’t see it, the virus isn’t here.
Shut the ferries down except for essential supplies,, food. NHS equipment & meds
This is getting frightening just bring all the infected people here if this is happening it’s immoral!
essential trade as we go into shut down for our own protections ….your a complete jockey
yes I’ve seen some driving around too. Thought the same.
How can you tell they’re tourists?
OMG – you are right Clive, this is NOT right. The island should be put on lockdown immediately. What are the hotels thinking…..money, that’s what. Only ESSENTIAL TRAVEL the government have stated. A holiday to the Isle of Wight is not essential at this time. STOP HOLIDAYING VISITORS NOW
stop this now I aree
Crazy, Crazy, idiots.
all travel should now be restricted to the public now to avoid this shite spreading worse but it won’t happen because we are a modern country living in the dark ages. as a island with a hospital that couldn’t cope with a huge number of people infected we should be seriously discussed and decisions made for us ASAP by paliment… It will all be to late soon. personally I think wightlink/red funnel have a duty of care towards this island but I guess it’s money grabbing and they won’t get help from the government if they drastically reduced services.
There are not 4000 ish cases in the uk but most probably 2 to 3 million with a mortality rate in the end of around 0.2 to 0.5% , there are loads of infected on the island with no symptons already.You will not stop it and social interaction is only a way to try and make sure nhs can cope.The majority will be elderly or with a underlying health condition which will make up 98% of deaths.If you come into that bracket self isolate, eventually it will be a balancing act between health & economy.My advice social distancing(petrol pumps included), wash hands and get a thermometer 37 normal 38 bad.If you think ialand safe haven then your deluded.
The ‘real’ infection total estimate is ~27 times the number of recorded cases. That equates to around 135,000 NOT millions.
STOP VISITORS TO THE ISLAND
There is a large proportion of over 80s on the island. We need to protect them from this virus and not be selfish or greedy. It’s time to think of others and restrict the ferries to freight only or hospital visits.
Lets say we stop the ferrys…….the virus is going to be around now 4ever, you would have to do it until a vaccine was found otherwise a virus free island could become a hot spot if it did eventually re open early.Like i said you have to get in the real world, what about families on mainland/ island, jobs etc businesses.This virus for people with underlying health conditions of any age is extremely dangerous , THOSE PEOPLE STAY SAFE & SELF ISOLATE, but for over 99% of people under 70 with no underlying health conditions you have no or mild symptoms.A report by BBC health reporter stated that the mortality rate figures did not take into account people that were going to die anyway.Im not being cold but we have to look at the big picture…….its here get used to it and we all need a little perspective on the whole thing…if you read 99% of the reports of deaths it states UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS
The hotels are not cashing, believe me. Just this week I’ve had £5k in cancellations and have no bookings for at least 7 weeks. The acts from the theatre have cancelled because they are closed. And I wait to see how many more are cancelling if it goes on longer. So the coach loads coming are because the businesses can’t afford to cancel them and government haven’t ordered people not to go away. So it’s mainly the larger ones not small independent places & B&B’s. Our business interruption insurance doesn’t cover the virus so we can’t get our money from them. Even the help announced are not yet available to access because details have not been fully given to councils and banks. That’s why businesses have closed and laid staff off or sent them on unpaid leave because they have no money to pay them. Remember, this has been happening since February really over here and it’s now 6 weeks later and the assistance to pay people will not be ready until the end of April. I’ve travelled to drop my wife off to help our daughter with the grandchildren because they are a nurse and hubby is a Paramedic. Even the schools staying open for them will not help them doing longer hours or with paying for extra hours at nursery for the two year old. So let’s not condemn people, let’s just all do what we can to help each other. Keep safe everyone.
Keep the visitors coming so less idiots driving 20 in a 30mph zone – the more we get rid off the better