Tenerife, May 10 (IANS). The first flight carrying Spanish passengers evacuated from the Hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius departed from Spain’s Canary Islands for Madrid on Sunday.
Buses operated by Spain’s Military Emergency Unit escorted the evacuees, escorted by the Spanish Civil Guard, directly from the port of Granadilla to the runway of Teneriffe South Airport.
As part of Spain’s emergency plan, the Military Emergency Unit dispatched buses with special sanitary protection to safely transport passengers. At the same time, the Civil Guard helped in security on the spot and coordination of the entire operation.
The health department, emergency services and police forces of the Canary Islands were also involved in this joint operation.
There were 14 Spanish nationals in the group, including 13 passengers and one crew member. These people were the first people to get off the ship. According to Spanish officials, they are first being taken to Torrejón de Ardoz Air Base near Madrid, after which they will have to complete the isolation process at the Gomez Ula Central Defense Hospital.
Spain’s Health Minister Monica Garcia said the entire operation was being carried out with ‘all the necessary safety measures’. He also informed that all the other passengers present on the ship are currently without any symptoms. The last return flight is expected to depart on Monday, carrying Australian citizens back.
At the same time, Netherlands is also going to send a ‘sweep flight’ on Monday afternoon. According to Spanish media, this flight will carry those passengers who have not yet been called back by their countries.
On Saturday, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reassured the people of the island of Tenerife that the threat to public health remains low despite the arrival of the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands. There were cases of Hantavirus spread on the ship.
In an open letter to Canary Islands residents, Tedros acknowledged local concerns, but said this was not another Covid. He said that at present the threat to public health from Hanta virus is less. He also informed that WHO experts and medical supplies are already present on the ship.
–IANS
AY/DKP
