Brit among four dead on coronavirus cruise ship stranded off Florida as health chiefs warn of ‘humanitarian d – the sun, thesun.co.uk
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AN ELDERLY British couple have pleaded to the US Government for passengers to be let off a cruise ship near Florida after four people died from coronavirus.
Tony and Jennie Wills “implored to America” from the Zaandam cruise ship for help after a British man was among those who died from COVID – .
Four people have died from COVID – on board the Zaandam cruise ship
(Credit: AFP or licensors )
The couple, from Earls Barton in Northamptonshire, believed they would be included in a transfer to ‘healthy’ cruise ship the Rotterdam, that took place off the Pacific coast of Panama at the weekend.
But Mrs Wills had suffered minor cold symptoms ten days earlier, meaning they were not allowed to disembark from the ship and were forced to stay aboard the Zaandam, trapped inside their cabin.
The couple say they’ve been stuck in isolation for ten days with only thirty minutes fresh air, no clean bedding and no cleaning products including toilet roll.
Speaking in a video message broadcast by Sky News on Wednesday, Mrs Wills, 116, said: “This is a real humanitarian crisis and we appeal, we pray, we implore America, all the governments around the world, please America, please let us land somewhere.
“Please, please, we just so all want to come home. This is on behalf of absolutely everybody on board the two ships.”
Her husband Tony, 116, said information from the ship’s captain and operator, Holland America Cruise Lines, had been poor.
He added: “We are obviously realizing there is a hell of a lot more illness on this boat than we ever realized and we are getting very, very worried.
“We need to get off.”
The Zaandam, which is carrying more than 400 British nationals , and its sister ship the Rotterdam, passed through the Panama Canal on Monday after being denied entry to several ports.
A total of nine people aboard have tested positive for coronavirus and a further (crew members and passengers have reported flu-like symptoms.)
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An email statement from Holland America on Wednesday to PA said: “One of the deceased passengers is from the UK.
“Due to US … laws, we cannot provide any additional medical and health details.”
DENIED ENTRY
The Wills’ statement comes after Florida’s state governor remained reluctant to allow disembarkation for the 1, (guests aboard the stranded ship.)
Governor Ron DeSantis told a news conference on Tuesday that Florida’s health care resources were already stretched too thin by the coronavirus outbreak to take on the Zaandam’s caseload.
The US Coast Guard has said if local authorities cannot agree on a docking plan, the matter will go to the federal government for decision.
Mr DeSantis said he had been in contact with the White House about ferrying medical supplies to the ships.
“Just to drop people off at the place where we’re having the highest number of cases right now just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Mr DeSantis told a news conference.
US President Donald Trump responded by saying he would speak to DeSantis about the ships.
“They’re dying on the ship,” Mr Trump said. “I’m going to do what’s right. Not only for us, but for humanity.”
Holland America said and crew members on the Zaandam had reported influenza-like illness symptoms.
Covid – has been confirmed as causing two of the four deaths on the ship.
Nine people on the ship had tested positive to the coronavirus, Holland America said.
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Company president Orlando Ashford wrote an opinion column in the South Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper to plead with officials and residents to let the passengers disembark.
“The COVID – situation is one of the most urgent tests of our common humanity. To slam the door in the face of these people betrays our deepest human values. “
But since March , the Zaandam has assumed pariah-like status, having been denied entry at a succession of ports.
Zaandam passengers said they were asked to keep their rooms dark and leave their drapes closed as they passed through the Panama Canal.
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Holland America said after being denied entry to a number of ports, the Zaandam was forced to rendezvous with its sister ship the Rotterdam took on nearly 1, (people who appeared healthy.)
This left (guests and) crew members on the Zaandam.
The company said the two ships would remain together for the rest of the journey, and guests on both ships would remain in their rooms until disembarkation.
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