Cuba allows docking of cruise ship with virus patients

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Monday announced that his country authorized cruise ship MS Braemar, which has confirmed COVID-19 patients on board, to dock in Cuba.

"Following request from #UK government, #Cuba has authorized docking of cruise ship MS Braemar with small number of passengers testing positive for #Covid-19. Sanitary measures established in WHO and @MINSAPCuba protocols will be implemented to receive passengers and crew," Rodriguez announced on Twitter.

"Decision has been taken in response to health emergency that might put the life of sick persons at risk. As agreed with #UK authorities, once passengers arrive in #Cuba they will be immediately and safely flown back to UK," Cuban top diplomat added.

Cuba's permission to dock will allow hundreds of British passengers who were stranded on a Caribbean cruise over coronavirus fears to fly home after the necessary protocols.

Before heading for Cuba, the cruise ship has been anchored near the Bahamas for several days after five people tested positive on the Dutch island of Curacao.

Since then, no country allowed docking over coronavirus fears, until Cuba extended help.

According to a diplomatic source in Cuba who spoke to CNN, government was willing to accept the ship out of "humanitarian concerns".

The Cuban source said the country accepted the ship in a "shared effort to confront and stop the spread of the pandemic".