Cruise ship with possible virus cases due in Panama Bay Friday

Panama will allow health care at sea for the stricken passengers of the  Zaandam cruise ship, which is on its way to Panama waters after South American ports banned access amid the coronavirus pandemic. The  Holland-America vessel has dozens of people with flu-like symptoms on board and will arrive on Friday, March 27.

It will be assisted eight miles from the mainland by the Rotterdam cruise ship, coming from San Diego, in the United States,  said the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP).

The Rotterdam, owned like the Zaandam by Holland America – of the Carnival group -, will deliver supplies, personnel and test kits of COVID-19.

“As caring citizens and one of the leading countries in the global maritime sector, it is important to be able to provide the humanitarian and peace of mind support available to people on board the  vessel,” said the AMP.

The Zaandam set sail with 1,243 passengers, including 100  French,250 Canadians,  and 586 crew on March 7 from Buenos Aires to San Antonio, on the central coast of Chile as the final destination.

But it had to alter course due to the drastic measures that governments were taking against the coronavirus. It tried to dock at several ports but found that all South American countries were closing their borders due to the pandemic.

The assistance operation “was requested in support of human beings who are on board with symptoms of a cold and seeks to be able to transfer medical supplies from the Holland America Company to them,” the AMP explained.

“It has been concluded that it does not represent any risk for our population”

The AMP highlighted that the Bay of Panama and its anchorage areas have favorable characteristics for the meeting of ships, such as calm waters and little wind.

The cruise ship intends to continue its journey to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, hoping to disembark all of its passengers there on March 30.

But transiting the Canal could be delayed if cases of COVID-19 are confirmed – by Panamanian health authorities, who must give the go-ahead to any vessel before crossing the isthmus during the pandemic.