Ill-fated cruise ships given approval to dock in Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Passengers aboard two cruise ships that have had coronavirus cases and deaths have been given the green light to disembark at a Florida port, an official said Thursday.
An agreement was reached between local, state and federal officials and Carnival Corp., which owns the Zaandam and the Rotterdam, Broward County Commissioner Michael Udine told The Associated Press in a text message.
Port Everglades traffic records listed the two ships’ arrival as “confirmed.” The cruise line Holland America is operating the ships. Holland America said 45 passengers who are mildly sick would stay on board until they recover, but that it needed 10 people to be taken to a Fort Lauderdale hospital for immediate medical care.
For nearly three weeks, passengers have not been able to step on dry land. Four elderly passengers have died on the Zaandam, at least two from COVID-19, said William Burke, chief maritime officer for Carnival Corp., which owns the ships. Nine people have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Burke said earlier this week.
There are 442 guests and 603 crew on the Zaandam, and 808 guests and 583 crew on the Rotterdam. The Rotterdam was sent last week to take in some of the passengers and provide assistance to the Zaandam since it was denied permission to dock at ports in South America.
About 230 have reported influenza-like symptoms since March 22, including 14 aboard the Rotterdam, while 45 currently are mildly ill, Holland America Line, the company that operates the ships, has said.
In an email sent Wednesday night, Holland America said it had received approval from a hospital in Fort Lauderdale to treat fewer than 10 people “who need immediate critical care.” Jennifer Smith, a spokesman for Broward Health medical center, said it would accept the critically ill patients...