BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — UPDATE:
This ships docked on Thursday.
Previous story:
Passengers aboard two cruise ships that were forced to stay offshore due to the coronavirus pandemic have been given the green light to disembark in South Florida.
The cruise line Holland America is operating the ships. Holland America says 45 passengers who are mildly sick will stay on board until they recover, but that it needs 10 people to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate medical care.
At least eight passengers aboard the Zaandam tested positive for COVID-19. Four passengers have died, and around 200 others are experiencing ‘flu-like’ symptoms. The second ship, the Rotterdam, was sent to shadow the Zaandam and provide support at sea. There are no reports of any sick people aboard the Rotterdam.
Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine says an agreement has been reached between local, state and federal officials and Carnival Corp., which owns the Zaandam and the Rotterdam. And Port Everglades traffic records list the two ships’ arrival as “confirmed.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said people living in the area were fearful the ships' arrival might contribute to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
"I met yesterday with the president of Holland America to share these concerns," Mayor Trantalis said. "Holland America agreed to a strict set of protocols if the county decided to allow the ships to dock."
During a press conference, Thursday Gov. Ron DeSantis said that there are approximately 40-50 Floridians onboard the Zaandam among foreign nationals.
"We have an interest in making sure those folks come safely," DeSantis said referring to the U.S. citizens on board.
As for the foreign nationals, DeSantis noted the difficulty Florida would have accommodating them, especially in South Florida, one of the states hardest-hit areas. Those individuals will leave the state on chartered planes and have no not contact with the general public
The majority of passengers do not appear to be sick. Those passengers without symptoms will be put on private charter buses and taken directly to the airport to board chartered flights out of the area.
"Given the county's decision to allow the ships here, I believe these regulations present a humanitarian solution for those on board while providing strong safeguards for our community," Mayor Trantalis said.
Previous Story:
Two cruise ships that were kept offshore amid the coronavirus pandemic are scheduled to dock Thursday at Port Everglades.
According to the port's website, the Zaandam is scheduled to dock at the port at 1 p.m., and the Rotterdam will dock at 1:30 p.m. The port says details for the ships' arrival are still being finalized.
The Zaandam and Rotterdam are part of Holland America's line of cruise ships.
On Wednesday, Gov. DeSantis said Floridians looking to disembark from the Holland America cruise ships, after nearly 200 passengers and crews became sick with flu-like symptoms, would be accepted into the state.
At least eight passengers tested positive for COVID-19 coronavirus. Four passengers have died.
Toni Kenney and her husband Frank, retirees from Citrus County, have been stuck on board. They began the South American voyage nearly a month ago on March 6 aboard the Zaandam. But then people started getting sick.
Fortunately, the couple has stayed healthy. They, along with other asymptomatic passengers were transferred to the sister ship, Rotterdam, where they remain quarantined in a cramped cabin.
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