This was confirmed by the Minister of Health, who described this transfer as “the most complex” of the entire operation. Six passengers will travel on this last flight.
The schedule announced by the minister contradicts the demand that the presidency of the Government of the Canary Islands had put forward to the central Executive. The presidency had refused at the last minute the previous day to authorize the vessel's anchoring, citing a lack of guarantees that the transfers would conclude on Sunday, and had requested the re-accommodation of passengers with delayed flights on planes from other countries if necessary.
“"The operation has been a success, and all passengers remain asymptomatic."
The minister detailed that at 6:30 AM, members of Foreign Health boarded the ship to begin the clinical evaluation of the 147 occupants, in collaboration with Dutch epidemiologists and the WHO Africa representative, who have been on board since the crisis began.
The fourteen Spanish passengers, along with the WHO Africa representative, will be the first to leave the ship to complete their quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid. At 7:35 AM, the first two 'bubble' buses arrived at the pier to transport this initial group to Tenerife South Airport.
The next plane will depart for the Netherlands. Subsequently, citizens from Germany, Belgium, and Greece will be evacuated, along with part of the crew. Finally, the disembarkation of passengers from Canada, Turkey, France, Ireland, and the United States is planned. The minister specified that they “will disembark as scheduled flights are ready to depart”.
