Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Workload; Communication Breakdown; Time Pressure; Confusion; Distraction
ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; General Flight Cancelled / Delayed
ATC Equipment / Nav Facility / Buildings; Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
Enroute from ZZZ1-ZZZ2 [airport]; Aircraft X; [Date]. Approaching ZZZ3 [airport] ATC informed us that ZZZ2 [airport] was not accepting any aircraft. Asked ATC for amplification and was told ZZZ1 Center [had a] COVID issue. Advised ATC of intention to divert to our scheduled alternate of ZZZ4 [airport].  A couple minutes later; ATC informed us ZZZ4 [airport] couldn't accept any more diversions. We were just east of ZZZ3 [airport] so I informed Dispatch that we were diverting to ZZZ [airport]. Dispatch initially told us to go to ZZZ4 [airport]; but after I informed him ZZZ4 [airport] couldn't take anymore diverts; ZZZ [airport] was agreed upon. Landed at ZZZ [airport] and shut down on Gate X. I asked ATC about the delay. They told us about an hour. I informed the passenger and asked Dispatch for a new flight plan. It eventually came and I requested fuel. Pulled our clearance and received an EDCT of XA:X1L. Informed the passengers again. As we finished our cockpit prep for departure we are advised of a ground stop to ZZZ2 [airport]. I inform the passengers again. Called ZZZ [airport] operations to dump lavs and provide us with water and food. Lav cart was broken so we asked if we could use a [different airline] lav cart. [Different airline] said no. ZZZ [airport] only had one crew handling 2 diverts and their regular scheduled departures; so it was very difficult to get anything done. No food or water ever arrived. Received another EDCT of XC:Y1L. Aircraft Y gets tow bar hooked to their aircraft. I ask ops why the tow bar is hooked to the [other aircraft] and not us. I was told we had a passenger count issue. No one had left the plane at this point. Never figured out what the problem with the passenger count was. Aircraft Y tries to take our EDCT but we get another ground stop to ZZZ2 [airport]. About XB:Z0L; the agent finally gets back to us and we discuss deplaning. The agent makes the announcement and I follow up with another announcement about the delay; deplaning; and follow up about taking bags and boarding passes. I also inform them that rebooking needed to be done via phone because there was no one that could do it at ZZZ [airport]. 5 passengers deplane and one returns. We get another EDCT of XD:A4L. I inform Dispatch that that will exceed our MOT. Another EDCT is coordinated and we depart ZZZ [airport] at  XC:Y1L. Upon landing at ZZZ2 [airport] at XD:B6L aircraft are parked on every taxiway and holding pad. I inform Dispatch that we need to get a gate ASAP. Finally on gate at XE:C6L.Multiple EDCTs with a couple ground stops just kept dragging us along. Initial thoughts were to keep passengers on aircraft because once we got our fuel; flight plan; etc.; it was close to the original EDCT. After we received the first ground stop; I started thinking of the passengers. Thus; the request for food; water; and lav service. ZZZ [airport] personnel were overwhelmed and couldn't handle everything that was going on.This was a rare event that caused every plane going to ZZZ2 [airport] to divert. ZZZ [airport] operations was blind-sided and didn't have enough personnel to handle the demand that this caused. From a pilot perspective; there wasn't really anything we could do to prevent it.
Air carrier Captain reported having to divert due to ATC COVID-19 issues at landing Center facility.