China News Service, March 28. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Holland America Cruises said that four people died on its cruise ship "Zandan" and two others tested positive for the new crown virus. There are plans to transfer healthy passengers to another ship.
Holland America Cruises said more than 130 people on board reported "flu-like symptoms" and respiratory problems, including 53 passengers and 85 staff. The statement said four "elderly guests" died on board, but did not provide further details on the cause of the death.
The "Zandan", carrying 1,243 passengers and 586 staff members, left Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 7 and was originally scheduled to end its flight in San Antonio, Chile, on the 21st. But no one has disembarked since leaving Chile's Punta Arenas on March 14. The vessel had previously planned to travel to the Caribbean Sea via the Panama Canal, but Panama has announced that vessels carrying newly confirmed cases cannot pass through the Panama Canal.
The company said it plans to transfer passengers "ship-to-ship" to another company's ship, Rotterdam. A statement from Holland America Cruises said it would continue to work with the Panamanian authorities to obtain permission to pass through the Panama Canal to travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida.