Brits from hantavirus ship prepare to fly back to UK – 20 to return | UK | News
A British repatriation flight carrying passengers from the virus-hit cruise ship has departed from Tenerife South Airport and is now en route to the UK as a major international evacuation operation continues under strict health checks. The plane carrying 20 British nationals fell slightly behind schedule on Sunday and is understood to have flown on the MV Hondius, which was quarantined on its return journey, Sky News reported. reports. The ship was at the center of a major outbreak response involving the rare Hantavirus.
Passengers on the ship are transported under strict infection control measures. Once the flight lands in the UK the group will be transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital, a designated managed clinical facility. Site previously used in the early stages of construction COVID-19 pandemic will host passengers for initial medical evaluation and testing.
According to official plans, passengers will remain under observation at the facility for 72 hours before being instructed to complete an additional 45-day isolation period as a precautionary measure.
Throughout Sunday, coordinated multinational evacuation efforts saw a number of repatriation flights departing from Tenerife. In total, seven flights carrying passengers of different nationalities have already taken off: Spain (14 passengers), France (5), Canada (4), Netherlands (26), United Kingdom (20), Ireland (2) and Turkey (3).
Three more flights are expected to depart later, including those to the United States, Australia and an additional service to the Netherlands. Officials confirmed that not all passengers allocated to national flights may necessarily be citizens of these countries.
Reporting from Tenerife, Sky News correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury said there was a “huge sense of relief” among evacuated British passengers when they finally boarded their planes home after days of uncertainty.
He said the multinational response was carefully planned and executed, with health and aviation authorities working to ensure safe transport conditions for all involved.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation on the quarantined cruise ship and evacuation continues.
