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MV Hondius Strict Quarantine as Passengers Caught 'Flouting' Mask Rules
Dozens were flown home for self-isolation after a hantavirus outbreak killed 3 people aboard the MV Hondius, officials said.
On Sunday, May 10, the Hondius docked in Tenerife to medically evacuate passengers following a Hantavirus outbreak last month that caused three deaths.
The outbreak prompted an emergency operation to transport over 90 holidaymakers home for self-isolation and quarantine across multiple nations.
Reports of passengers flouting rules surfaced within hours, with some spotted without properly fitting masks; a healthcare worker was also seen removing PPE in a public area on Sunday.
French official Sébastien Lecornu revealed a national developed symptoms aboard a flight to Paris, prompting authorities to place all five evacuees "immediately placed in strict isolation until further notice."
Fears persist among residents that Tenerife could become a pandemic epicenter, with healthcare worker David Hernández, 29, warning the island's 24 intensive care beds cannot cope with potential outbreaks.
After the evacuation of the MV Hondius, all passengers have been taken care of by their home countries. SvD has reviewed how the countries' action plans differ. "This can pose risks," says the WHO director about the US strategy.