Passengers On Westerdam May Disembark On Friday
Passengers on the cruise ship Westerdam may start disembarking on Friday at a port in southern Cambodia after being denied entry at several ports elsewhere for fear of coronavirus infection.
The Westerdam arrived off the port of Sihanoukville on Thursday morning, following Cambodia's decision to allow the ship to dock in the country.
Sihanoukville Governor Kuoch Chamroeun told reporters on Thursday afternoon that the passengers are expected to start disembarking as early as Friday morning. He said they will go to the capital Phnom Penh by chartered plane in two groups. He did not give any more details.
The ship left Hong Kong on February 1, carrying more than 2,200 passengers and crew, including five Japanese. It was then denied entry at ports in Taiwan, Japan and elsewhere due to fears that some of the passengers may be infected with the coronavirus.
Cambodia's health ministry said it has sent a medical team to the ship to check whether anyone on board is infected.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen told local media that the country decided to accept the ship on humanitarian grounds.
Unlike many other countries, Cambodia has not imposed restrictions on entry by people from China, where the virus originated and the number of infections is rising.
