PORT EVERGLADES, FLA. (WSVN) - One day after sick passengers on board two Holland America cruise ships disembarked and were transported to South Florida hospitals, the hundreds of other passengers on board the ships now have their chance to leave.
The Zaandam and Rotterdam Holland America cruise ships docked at Port Everglades on Thursday with nine passengers who tested positive for COVID-19. Four men over the age of 70 died on board, two were diagnosed with the virus, one suffered a heart attack and the other succumbed to a preexisting illness, according to CNN.
“Everyone’s watched these ships for weeks on end now, floating out at sea stranded,” said Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony. “Several countries denied them access, and we were hesitant here at one point in our own country to figure out what can we do. This is America. We’ve never left anybody alone. We’ve never turned our backs on our own, our members of the armed services and first responders or any aspect in our community, and we didn’t want to start that here in Broward County.”
Ten sick patients were taken off the ships and transported to Broward Health Medical Center while four others were transported to Larkin Community Hospital in Hialeah.
“We took the sick off first,” Tony said. “We were able to transport those folks over to definitive care to make sure they got the treatment that they needed.”
Early Friday morning, the 1,211 other passengers began to disembark the ships to eventually head home.
The process is expected to last until the evening.
“My heart broke for them,” said Fort Lauderdale resident Jane Schuller. “I can’t imagine being contained without knowing what you’re breathing or what’s happening.”
Before leaving the ship, the passengers must first have a medical screening and complete a questionnaire.
Once they are cleared, they are given a face mask and allowed off the ship.
“We have taken every precaution necessary to protect the well-being and health of the people of Broward County, while at the same time being humanitarians,” said Broward County Mayor Dale Holness.
7SkyForce HD hovered above Port Everglades where the first round of passengers waited to load onto a chartered bus headed to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
Social distancing practices are being used to transport the passengers, allowing only 26 people to board each bus.
Rick DiPino and his wife were on board one of those chartered buses. The couple set sail on the Zaandam several weeks ago, and they have spent the last 11 days quarantined in their room.
“It feels awesome to be on land and great to not be staring at land and not being able to get off,” DiPino said.
The passengers will not be brought to regular terminals, but will be taken directly to the tarmac to board chartered planes.
The first group of passengers flying out consisted of 243 Canadians headed to Calgary.
Florida residents will be provided with private transportation to their homes.
“They have to take us directly to our home in Citrus County,” said passenger Frank Kenney. “We’re not allowed to go down to Miami to get our vehicle.”
“All these individuals are required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at their home,” said Holness.
An additional 26 passengers on board both ships who are experiencing moderate flu-like symptoms will stay on the ship in quarantine along with 50 crew members from both ships who are also experiencing symptoms.
Meanwhile, the Coral Princess is southeast of Harbour Island in the Bahamas, and it remains unclear whether or not that vessel will be allowed to dock at Port Everglades.
An operation similar to the Rotterdam and the Zaandam would likely be required if the vessel docks at the Fort Lauderdale port.
Christine Beehler, a passenger on board the Coral Princess, shot cellphone video of a sister ship bringing supplies to the vessel, which was then followed by a symbolic horn blast.
“This is emotional,” she said. “Passengers are going crazy.”
A dozen people on the vessel have tested positive for COVID-19. Peter Nam is among them, and his wife is still waiting for her test results.
Kiwon Korn, their daughter, said they tried to back out of the cruise but could not get their money back.
“I’m completely helpless,” she said. “I’m trying to get the word out there. There’s hundreds of Americans, thousands of passengers stranded on the sea not knowing when they’ll be docking anywhere.”
A U.S. Coast Guard order has barred the entry of the Coral Princess into the port until the cruise line comes up with a plan to limit exposure to the community, which could mean another exodus by bus and plane.
The Coral Princess was originally supposed to dock at Port Everglades on Saturday, but the ship’s arrival depends on when the cruise line comes up with that plan.
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