The arrival of the Hondius vessel in the Canary Islands has mobilized an extensive operation at the Port of Granadilla, where an advanced command post has been set up to manage the disembarkation. The Minister of Health, Mónica García, has confirmed that passengers will undergo an epidemiological assessment before disembarking to ensure they remain asymptomatic.
The deployment, supervised by an inter-administrative technical commission, was finalized this Saturday. The decision for the vessel to dock in Granadilla has been a subject of debate, with criticism from political leaders who advocated for other solutions, such as remaining in Cape Verde or not docking at the island.
“"This is not another COVID-19, the risk of hantavirus remains low."
Disembarkation will take place between 04:00 and 06:00 in the morning, in a staggered manner and using small boats. The first to disembark will be the 14 Spanish passengers and an infectious disease expert from the WHO office for Africa. The remaining passengers will be repatriated in groups of five, organized by nationality, to Tenerife South Airport.
As a preventive measure, all disembarked individuals and operational personnel will use FFP2 masks and personal protective equipment. Minister García has also clarified that the body of the deceased person will not disembark in the Canary Islands, and the vessel will continue its route to the Netherlands for a complete disinfection process.
Passengers will be transferred in 'bubble' buses to the airport, carrying only a small carry-on bag. The Minister of Interior, Grande Marlaska, emphasized that travelers will only disembark when repatriation planes are ready for departure, ensuring no contact with the local population. Flights have been scheduled to France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
Despite initial concern among port workers, unions such as CSIF and UGT have called for calm, assuring that the Port Authority staff is prepared and has the necessary protective equipment to handle the situation with maximum guarantees.
“"I want to emphasize that all epidemiological surveillance mechanisms, international coordination, and rapid response are functioning correctly. We are detecting, locating, and acting from the first moment in response to any possible risk situation and any possible contact. I want to emphasize once again that the risk to the general population remains low."
