Zaandam Cruise Ship Heads for Florida as Passengers Test Positive for Coronavirus

4 年前

The Zaandam cruise ship, on which four passengers died from COVID-19, was traveling to Florida on March 30 after passing through the Panama Canal with its sister ship, the Rotterdam, where asymptomatic passengers had been transferred.

Holland America Line, which operates the ships, said on March 27 that four “older guests” had died on the Zaandam, while 53 guests and 85 crew had reported to the ship’s medical center with influenza-like symptoms. Two individuals tested positive for the new coronavirus, the company said.

There were 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board the Zaandam. A company update said the ship left Chile on March 21 and planned to arrive at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 30, where the company hoped guests from both ships could disembark.

However, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Monday that he does not want to see people from the Zaandam disembark in Florida and was talking to the Trump administration about next steps.

This footage was shared by Ian Rae, a passenger on the Zaandam who lives in London, England. He told Storyful he filmed the video as about two-thirds of the passengers were transferred from the Zaandam to the Rotterdam on March 29. He stayed on the Zaandam, he said. Credit: Ian Rae via Storyful