The Dutch charter flight with evacuated passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius landed at Eindhoven Air Base just before 8:30 PM on Sunday evening. At the end of the afternoon the flight left Tenerife after some delay. The ship, where several passengers previously became infected with the hantavirus and three of whom died, was anchored there.
The plane transported 26 people, including eight Dutch people, who were staying on the ship. were on board according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs “all measures for a safe flight” have been taken. Passengers had enough space to keep their distance and there was medical guidance – although the chance that this would be called upon was small: everyone had to undergo a medical check before boarding the plane.
The passengers who landed on Sunday evening must now complete a short questionnaire and provide blood for a diagnostic laboratory test. The Dutch will then be taken home with “safe professional transport”. There they must go into home quarantine for six weeks and maintain daily contact with the GGD about their health. The Belgians and Germans who were on board the flight are picked up by ambulances from their home countries. Passengers with other nationalities who cannot go home immediately are accommodated at a quarantine location.
On Monday, the Netherlands will send another plane to Tenerife to pick up some of the crew members of the Hondius. reports the ministry. Another part of the crew must remain on board to operate the cruise ship: it will sail from Tenerife to Rotterdam as soon as all passengers have been evacuated.
Before the Dutch flight left Tenerife, Spaniards, French and Canadians had also returned home by plane. One of these Frenchmen was found to show symptoms of the hantavirus once on board.
In recent days, none of the roughly 150 passengers and crew members still on the Hondius showed symptoms of the hantavirus. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not see any pandemic potential in the virus: Thursday the organization emphasized that this outbreak on the cruise ship will not lead to a global crisis like the one caused by the Covid-19 virus. The risk to public health is low, according to the WHO.
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Dutch flight with Hondius passengers lands in Eindhoven, six-week quarantine period applies
