Captain Praises Crew and Guests on Virus-Hit Ship as Australians Prepare to Return Home
The MV Hondius left Tenerife for Rotterdam.
In short:
The captain praised the crew and guests for their kindness during the hantavirus outbreak.
Captain Jan Dobrogowkshi was touched by their caring and quiet strength.
What's next?
A chartered flight will take four Australians to the Netherlands for a medical check before going to Perth for quarantine.
The captain praised the crew and guests for their patience and kindness as they prepare to go home.
Captain Jan Dobrogowski said the past few weeks were very challenging.
He was moved by the passengers' patience, discipline, and kindness.
The captain saw the crew and guests caring for each other and showing quiet strength. He commended his crew for their courage.
A video showed the captain sharing information and staying calm during the outbreak.
The captain wishes everyone a safe trip home in good health.
A 500-bed facility in Perth will be used for quarantine after being idle for years.
122 guests and crew have left the MV Hondius and are going home.
The MV Hondius will go to Rotterdam with 25 crew, two medical professionals, and a body.
A chartered flight with four Australians arrived in the Netherlands for a medical check.
None of them had symptoms of the virus.
The Australian passengers landed in the Netherlands for a medical check.
After 48 hours, they will go to Western Australia and quarantine for at least three weeks.
Health Minister Mark Butler is working on arrangements to bring the Australians home.
This is a difficult arrangement to make.
Crew must be willing to isolate after the flight.
The minister is confident the Australians will be home in the next 48 hours.
The cruise ship has seven confirmed hantavirus cases and three deaths.
The World Health Organization says the risk to the public is very low.
Reuters
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