British passengers and crew aboard the MV Hondius are scheduled to return to the UK on Sunday and undergo a 45-day quarantine period at a Merseyside hospital. Arrowe Park Hospital, which previously accommodated individuals from Wuhan, China, during the early stages of the Covid-19 outbreak, will host the returning guests as requested by NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency.
In a race against impending adverse weather conditions in the Canary Islands, rescue teams, including UK government personnel, will evacuate around 147 people, including 22 British nationals, from the hantavirus-affected cruise ship upon its arrival at the Granadilla port in Tenerife.
Upon docking early Sunday, the evacuation operation must be swiftly executed within 24 hours to avoid potential delays caused by anticipated severe weather. The evacuation plan involves using small zodiac boats with a limited capacity of five individuals for a staggered transfer to Tenerife South Airport, where specially-chartered government planes will await the passengers.
The UK Health Security Agency, in collaboration with other partners, is overseeing the repatriation process with stringent infection control measures. British passengers and crew from the MV Hondius will undergo a mandatory 45-day isolation period upon return, with continuous monitoring and testing by UKHSA.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the vessel operators, confirmed the absence of symptomatic individuals on board. However, three fatalities, including a Dutch couple and a German national, have occurred since the cruise commenced from Argentina. Two British nationals infected with the virus are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa. Additionally, a third British passenger suspected of hantavirus infection is under quarantine on Tristan da Cunha.
Authorities are actively tracking confirmed and suspected cases among individuals who interacted with the affected passengers and are providing necessary support to those in self-isolation. The World Health Organization, led by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, is closely monitoring the situation and ensuring appropriate measures are in place for the safe disembarkation of passengers and crew in Spain.
Public health officials are assuring the local population in the Canary Islands that the risk remains low, emphasizing the strict adherence to safety protocols during the disembarkation process. UKHSA’s Chief Scientific Officer, Professor Robin May, affirmed the minimal risk to the general public and the implementation of stringent infection control measures to safeguard the repatriation process for British nationals aboard the MV Hondius.