The Secretary General of Civil Protection and Emergencies, Virginia Barcones, reported that the final disembarkations from the vessel took place between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM this Monday, allowing the ship to depart at 7:00 PM. The last passengers to leave the ship on Sunday were 17 American citizens and one British resident in the United States, who were already en route to Tenerife South Airport.
In total, 94 people of 19 different nationalities were disembarked from the cruise ship, as explained by the Minister of Health, Mónica García, at a press conference. Seven flights were arranged to repatriate citizens from eight countries, while the flight bound for the Netherlands carried up to 11 nationalities. The minister emphasized that the entire operation was carried out with “total normality and safety”.
The vessel began its refueling operations at 7:00 AM, followed by provisioning. After these procedures, the MV Hondius set sail for the Netherlands, heading to the port of Rotterdam, where it will undergo a complete decontamination and cleaning process. The last flights with remaining passengers, six bound for Australia and 18 for the Netherlands, also departed this Monday afternoon, leaving 34 people on board the ship.
“"We have worked phenomenally; the Government of the Canary Islands was invited but did not attend. Today was the day to work, despite the difficulties, and we are proud of the success of the operation, proud of a country that has taken charge."
The minister also referred to the situation of a Spanish technician who removed his PPE upon arrival at the airport, explaining that he was the psychiatrist from the Mental Health Commissioner, who accompanied the Spanish passengers to the plane without traveling with them, which she considered “total normality.” García expressed gratitude for the congratulations and appreciation from the WHO and several ambassadors deployed to Tenerife, concluding that Spain is “a solvent and robust country.”
The WHO Director, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recommended a 42-day quarantine for passengers, which can be carried out in a facility or at home, emphasizing that these are recommendations and not impositions. Finally, the minister described the second negative PCR test of a woman from Alicante, a contact of a deceased case in Johannesburg, as “good news.” She will need another test in 48 hours and must complete quarantine, as will another woman from Barcelona with a negative PCR test.
