Several travelers from the virus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship were seen not wearing their facemasks correctly shortly after the ship docked in Spain’s Canary Islands. Among them, a passenger, believed to be Dutch, was photographed removing his mask while on a bus, and another passenger was spotted with a mask hanging from his ear despite others around him wearing full protective gear.
Reports indicate that a Spanish healthcare worker from the state-deployed medical support team was witnessed removing his personal protective equipment (PPE) in a public area after getting off a bus provided by the military’s emergency response unit, the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME).
Following concerns from residents about a potential public health crisis, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus faced questions from journalists regarding the lenient enforcement of quarantine measures. Despite some passengers not wearing masks properly, he emphasized that many of the disembarked passengers are elderly and may find it uncomfortable to wear certain types of masks due to existing health conditions.
While WHO officials seemed unconcerned about the lax attitude towards mask-wearing, social media users expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, citing the stricter mask regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a separate development, a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship exhibited hantavirus symptoms while being repatriated to France from Tenerife. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the incident and stated that all evacuees from the vessel were placed in isolation immediately.
Despite assurances from health authorities that quarantine and decontamination measures are being taken seriously, concerns persist among residents about the potential resurgence of a public health crisis. The Canary Islands, having experienced a significant COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, are wary of becoming the focal point of another pandemic.
Healthcare worker David Hernández expressed worry about the arrival of the MV Hondius in Tenerife, recalling the challenges faced during the previous pandemic and emphasizing the need for strict protocols to handle the current situation.
Residents, including retired teacher Francesca Borges, voiced concerns about the repeated challenges faced by the Canary Islands in managing public health crises and criticized the perceived lack of support from the Spanish government in such situations.