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Passengers on ship turned away over virus fears disembark in Cambodia

adminFebruary 14, 20202 Mins read73 Views

SIHANOUKVILLE: Passengers on a cruise ship that spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over coronavirus fears started disembarking in Cambodia on Friday (Feb 14).

The MS Westerdam, carrying 1,455 passengers and 802 crew, docked in the Cambodian port town of Sihanoukville on Thursday. It had anchored offshore early in the morning to allow Cambodian officials to board and collect samples from passengers with any signs of ill health or flu-like symptoms.

A cruise ship that spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard might have the coronavirus is seen in Sihanoukville, Cambodia February 14, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomes a passenger of MS Westerdam as it docks in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Feb 14, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

After tests, no one on board was found to be carrying the virus, Cambodia's health ministry said.

Cambodian authorities granted permission for passengers to disembark on Friday morning, the ship's operator, Holland America Line, a unit of Miami-based Carnival Corp, said in an emailed statement, ending two weeks of uncertainty for the cruise.

Charter flights were being organised to help passengers return home, the statement said.

"Flight details are being communicated to guests as they are finalised, and it is expected that a full disembarkation will take a few days given the charter flight schedule," the statement said.

Passengers of MS Westerdam, a cruise ship that spent two weeks at sea after being turned away by five countries over fears that someone aboard might have the coronavirus, get off as it docks in Sihanoukville, Cambodia on Feb 14, 2020. REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun

The sound of cheering inside the ship could be heard from Sihanoukville port when the Westerdam finally docked on Thursday evening.

READ: Thailand refuses entry to cruise ship amid coronavirus concerns

READ: Chess, squabbles aboard cruise ship cast away by coronavirus fears

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen personally greeted the passengers with handshakes and bouquets of roses as they stepped off the ship and boarded a waiting bus.

"My wife and I gave him some chocolates as a show of our appreciation," Lou Poandel, a tourist from New Jersey, told Reuters after he disembarked and met the Cambodian leader.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised Cambodia for its examplRead More – Source

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