On the "Zaandam", several passengers tested positive for the corona virus - four died. Now the US President wants to act personally: "We have to do something."
Washington (AP) - US President Donald Trump has pledged to help the passengers of the cruise ship "Zaandam" and the sister ship "Rotterdam" in the corona crisis. "From a humanitarian point of view, we have no choice," Trump said in the White House. "People die."
He added, "We have to do something. And the governor (from Florida, Ron DeSantis) knows that too." The "Zaandam" and the "Rotterdam" are on their way to Florida, but so far have no permission to dock at the destination port in Fort Lauderdale in the south of the state.
On the "Zaandam", several passengers had tested positive for the corona virus. The Holland America Line shipping company - which operates both "Zaandam" and "Rotterdam" - announced on Monday that four passengers had died and others were in mortal danger. A message from the shipping company on Wednesday said that since March 22, a total of 97 guests and 136 crew members had had flu-like symptoms on both ships. DeSantis initially prevented the ships from calling into Florida.
There were originally 79 Germans on the "Zaandam" - most have now switched to the "Rotterdam". The shipping company asked on Wednesday for the ships to moor in Fort Lauderdale and called for "compassion". Trump said that medical teams would definitely be sent to the ships. They are also in talks with the Canadian and UK authorities to bring their citizens home. The US president said many passengers were Americans. "But we have to help people. They are in big trouble no matter where they come from."
