He MV Hondius will be recorded in history as the ‘hantavirus cruise’. The large Dutch-flagged ship has a vessel that will now be subjected to intense and extensive disinfection sessions by health authorities. For the crew that was still inside, the road is longer.
Of the 27 members, 25 belonged to the crew, in addition to a doctor and a nurse, both members of the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and Environment. Of the human group, the majority are filipinos, 17 in total, for four Dutch, four Ukrainians, a Russian and a Pole, the captain. The Dutch have been able to leave the ship and go home to complete the quarantine; In the case of the other 23, the situation will be very different, especially the 17 Filipinos.
For them, the prefabricated cabins which the port of Rotterdam has in your dock 7 for having been appointed Dutch quarantine port for ships with health risks and one of the most important ports in the world. The area, those responsible for the operation have explained, “is isolated from the outside world”, about “8 kilometers from civilization.”
The crew members will remain in quarantine for at least six weeks and in the case of the Filipinos they will be entirely in the port facilities since They claim not to have good isolation facilities in their country and with the addition that a special return flight is too expensive.
These cabins, which are protected by black screens to avoid intrusions from the media, workers or onlookers, They have “everything you need” to ensure a dignified stay in the next month and a half.
Thus, they will be able to have a small kitchen, shower, sofa, bed and washing machinein addition to internet connection through Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite system, with which to make video calls or messaging connections with family, friends and authorities, who monitor your arrival and evolution in the first hours.
He details that another group of crew initially remains on board the shipwhich is being subjected to a thorough cleaning and disinfection by a specialized company, before being transferred to their countries of origin.
Although none of the 27 members of the ship present symptoms, the health authorities have performed various blood tests upon arrival. And they will maintain daily contact with the Municipal Health Service, at least for the moment and until health officials rule that it is no longer necessary.
