Four passengers have died aboard a Holland America cruise ship stranded near Panama after not being allowed to dock in Chile.
The cause of death of the four passengers was not released.
At least two passengers have tested positive for the coronavirus, WSVN reported. There are 138 people sick with flu-like symptoms.
Just got update from family on the ship: 4 dead. 2 have tested positive for COVID-19. They are pulled up next to the Rotterdam (another Holland America ship) and attempting to transfer healthy passengers to that ship. https://t.co/3IJROV1kJ5
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) March 27, 2020
The Zaandam was denied entry in Chile and is expected to dock at Port Everglades in Florida next week. There are 1,243 passengers and 586 crew members aboard the ship, WSVN reported.
Passengers who are not ill will be transferred to another ship, the Rotterdam.
The Zaandam embarked on a trip on March 7 from Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the voyage scheduled to end in San Antonio, Chile, on Saturday, March 21. The company announced its intention to suspend operations on March 17 as the Zaandam was still sailing.
:quality(70)/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-cmg.s3.amazonaws.com/public/TBZNJCXLKNE57KFVJHWJDFIUTY.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/HE5JXEB7JJEM7GETQ2YRJBPFVU.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VB36ZR24H5FU3CUAQGBJOCNZTY.PNG)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/VJUHROMDQVHPDA34Z2O3S2UGJU.jpeg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/ZIZF4Z6IXBBQZGERMQVMQBZ77U.jpg)
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/HIOWXMVGENEY5KHJWJ22GNF5KM.jpg)