Friday, April 3, 2020
After a week at sea both the MS Zaandam and MS Rotterdam have docked in Port Everglades, Florida, after weeks at sea.
Following the intervention of United States president Donald Trump, Holland America Line vessels, which have been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic
It was noted that a British man was among four people who died on Zaandam and the vessel was carrying hundreds passengers when it set off a South America cruise from Buenos Aires to San Antonio on March 7th.
On March 15the failed attempts were made to disembark guests in Chile on and at other ports along its route to the United States, before eventual arrival in Florida.
Since March 22 a total of 107 passengers – 90 on Zaandam and 17 on Rotterdam – and 143 crew on Zaandam have presented with influenza-like symptoms and the situation is thought to have deteriorated further in the interim.
After clearance was agreed with authorities passengers fit to travel amid guidelines from the US centres for disease control and prevention were allowed off the ships in Florida.
Holland American Line president, Orlando Ashford stated that these travellers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning.
They were happy to be able to get their guests home and assist those few who need additional medical services.
He went on saying that Covid-19 situation is one of the most urgent tests of our shared humanity, and they must do everything to ensure they continue to act in ways consistent with their common human dignity.
By Friday evening the disembarkation is expected to be completed.
Tags: holland america line
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