The Minister's address began with an expression of gratitude to the press and the Canarian public for their support during the operation's coverage. It was reported that the two flights initially scheduled for the afternoon, bound for the Netherlands and Australia, will be combined into a single aircraft covering the route to the Dutch nation.
“"We expect that flight to arrive later this afternoon to begin disembarkation procedures."
With the departure of this flight, 'Operation Granadilla' will be completed, and the repatriations from the vessel will conclude. In the morning, 54 people remained on board; 22 will disembark during the afternoon, while the remaining 32 will continue the voyage to the Netherlands. The international protocol, which kept Granadilla in the global spotlight for 48 hours, will expire at seven in the evening, at which point the ship will head for Rotterdam and the port will return to normal.
The Minister also confirmed a “weak positive” with mild symptoms detected in one of the passengers transferred to the United States, assuring close collaboration with all countries involved. Regarding a French passenger who began to show symptoms during the return journey, their current health status is unknown.
“"When Foreign Health boarded, their temperature was taken, and none of them had a fever. That's why we monitor each case daily."
It is considered “manageable” that some asymptomatic passengers may develop symptoms over time. The Minister defended the epidemiological evaluation carried out and stressed that the success of the operation lies in the traceability of the device, that is, in knowing close contacts and the protocols applied.
As for the fourteen Spaniards admitted to the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital, the results of the PCR tests will be known today. Finally, the disinfection of the vessel will begin once it departs from Granadilla, after the refueling and transfer of the last passengers are completed.
