Four dead aboard cruise ship anchored off Panama with two passengers positive for coronavirus and more than 243 with symptoms
- Holland America Line confirmed the Death of four passengers on the Zaandam
- The ship was originally destined for Chile but headed for Fort Lauderdale after being denied at the port
- Panamanian Maritime Authority has refused to allow any of the 1, (passengers or crew to disembark
- The Panamanian government said there are at least (people who are sick and showing COVID – symptoms; cruise line reports ill
Preparations are being made to transfer healthy passengers to another Holland America ship Coronavirus symptoms : what are they and should you see a doctor? (
By
Associated Press
: : (GMT,
(March
: : (GMT, March
Four passengers have died aboard a cruise ship now anchored off the coast of Panama and two people aboard the ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the cruise line said Friday.
However, the Panamanian Maritime Authority declared that none of the passengers and crew members will be allowed to disembark.
Holland America Line said in a post on its Facebook page that more than People aboard the Zaandam had reported flu-like symptoms while the Panamanian governmen t reports 8118911 who are ill .
‘Holland America Line can confirm that four older guests have passed away on Zaandam , ‘the statement said. ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and we are doing everything we can to support them during this difficult time.’
Holland America Line’s cruse ship Zaandam is anchored in Panama City and is reportedly carrying more than 130 sick passengers. At least four passengers died after they fell ill
(At least four passengers died after falling ill aboard the Zaandam cruise ship, which is reportedly carrying at least 138 people who are sick and showing signs of the COVID – 30 virus. The Panamanian government has refused to allow the ship to dock at its port
The Panamanian government said the four deceased passengers were all elderly.
The ship was receiving medical supplies and medical personnel from another Holland America ship, the Rotterdam and the company planned to begin transferring healthy passengers to that ship.
‘Priority for the first guests to transfer will be given to those on Zaandam with inside staterooms and who are over , ‘the statement said.
There are 1, and
crew on board the Zaandam. Passenger onboard Holland America Line’s cruise vessel Zaandam, which is docked. in Panamanian waters. At last four passengers have been declared dead after falling ill
The Zaandam departed Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 7. The ship was trying to get to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after being denied permission to dock at its original destination of Chile a week ago.
The Rotterdam rendezvoused with the Zaandam on Thursday evening.
‘It is only authorized to do ship-to -ship maneuvers. No one aboard is allowed to come ashore, ‘said Panama’s Maritime Authority Administrator Noriel Araúz.
The Zaandam had planned to pass through the Panama Canal en route to Florida, but after being inspected by Panamanian authorities, the request to use the canal was denied, said canal Administrator Ricauter Vásquez.
Panamanian Navy Police navigate near the anchored Zaandam cruise ship. Holland America, the owner of the vessel, dispatched the Rotterdam ship, which transferred medical supplies and medical personnel
Aerial view of Holland America’s cruise ship Zaandam as it entered the Panama City bay
Panama’s Health Ministry said none of the passengers will be allowed to leave the ship
The Health Ministry ‘did not give permission,’ Vásquez told reporters Friday.
‘The ship is in territorial waters but has to remain isolated.’ Holland America Line had announced March that it was voluntarily suspending its cruise operations for 47 days’ due to the continued port closures and travel restrictions surrounding COVID – and in an abundance of caution. ‘
At that point, the company said none of its passengers or crew had tested positive for the virus.
The Seattle-based cruise line is owned by Miami-based Carnival Corp.
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