The number of passengers and crew exhibiting flu-like symptoms aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship travelling around South America has spiked by more than 80 per cent — from 42 to 77 cases — in just two days.
The number of passengers and crew exhibiting flu-like symptoms aboard a Holland America Line cruise ship travelling around South America has spiked by more than 80 per cent — from 42 to 77 cases — in just two days.
A total of 247 Canadians are among the 1,243 passengers on the Zaandam, which also has 586 crew members.
On Tuesday, Holland America said in a statement that 30 passengers and 47 crew members are now sick. It comes after the company first reported 42 “influenza-like” cases on Sunday among passengers and crew.
The Zaandam had initially planned to dock 10 days ago in Punta Arenas, Chile to allow passengers to fly home amid the growing COVID-19 pandemic. But the country refused to allow anyone to disembark, and the ship is currently sailing off the coast of Peru with no confirmed docking plans.
The spike in reported illnesses is heightening worries for Tanya Williams, of Waterloo, Ont., whose 72-year-old father, John, is on the ship. She believes that rapid spread could be a sign of a potential COVID-19 outbreak on board.
“I’m very concerned,” said Williams. “I really want him to come home.”
She said her father told her a few days ago that he had developed a cough and a sore throat.
It is currently unclear whether the sick individuals on the Zaandam have COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus which has quickly spread on several other cruise ships. The Zaandam has no COVID-19 test kits on board.
But Holland America said Tuesday that another company ship is en route to deliver extra supplies, staff and test kits to the Zaandam. The ships are set to meet up on Thursday, off the coast of Panama.
Holland America