Cruise shunned over coronavirus docks in Cambodia
The cruiseliner that spent two weeks at sea and was turned away from five countries for fear coronavirus - despite not having any confirmed cases aboard - has finally found a place to dock in Cambodia.
A huge relief for the passengers aboard the MS Westerdam, its nearly 1,500 tourists and 800 crew aboard arrived at an anchoring point on Thursday (February 13) morning.
The president of Holland America Line, the company that owns the ship, thanked passengers for their understanding in a video address.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT OF HOLLAND AMERICA LINE, ORLANDO ASHFORD, SAYING:
"It is an incredibly unusual and challenging circumstance. This has been such a unique situation for any of us to be in and you've been the most amazing guests throughout.''
Although no one on the cruise had fallen ill, blood samples from passengers were collected by Cambodian health officials for testing for the coronavirus.
Here's the country's transport minister:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) CAMBODIA TRANSPORT MINISTER, SUN CHANTHOL, SAYING:
"On this cruise ship, there will be some sick people but not knowing what kind of illness, and about 20 of them are already isolated. So this morning, we have sent our doctors to take their blood to test to the Pasteur Institute in Phnom Penh by helicopter. Though, according to our estimations, there may be no one on the ship who has the coronavirus."
Cambodia's efforts have been praised by the World Health Organization chief who said it was an example of, quote, "international solidarity."
It's still not known when passengers will be able to travel home, with the Westerdam calling for the disembarkation to be postponed to Friday (February 14).
