Four Dead in Third COVID-19 Outbreak Aboard a Carnival-Owned Cruise Ship
- Arnold & Itkin
Four passengers have died on a Holland America cruise ship, the company announced in a statement about the latest coronvirus outbreak aboard a Carnival-owned vessel. Two more passengers have tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the Zaandam, a ship carrying over 1,800 souls. Over 100 others are exhibiting signs of coronavirus infection—53 passengers and 85 crew, according to the company.
“Four older guests have passed away on the Zaandam,” the company said in a statement. “No one has been off the ship since March 14 in Punta Arenas, Chile.” The statement declined to specify if the four older guests died of COVID-19.
The Zaandam transferred healthy patients to the Rotterdam (another Holland America ship) on Thursday before they could be exposed to the coronavirus. Any crew or passengers exhibiting symptoms stayed on the ship and will remain there, in accordance with CDC guidelines. The ship’s original voyage was scheduled for March 7 to March 21, but Holland America suspended all cruise operations in the middle of its voyage. Passengers were forbidden from disembarking at Chile, so the Zaandam is now headed to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Coronavirus Cases Traced to 25 Cruise Ships, 3 Owned by Carnival Corp.
Cruise ships have served as the perfect hosts for enormous outbreak clusters during the global coronavirus pandemic. The CDC connected numerous COVID-19 outbreaks to just 25 cruise ships, outbreaks that have led to dozens falling ill and even dying. Many outbreaks ignited aboard ships owned by Carnival Cruises.
Eight passengers died after disembarking the Carnival-owned Diamond Princess at a Japanese port last month in one of the largest outbreak clusters outside of China. Doctors traced the 700-person outbreak to a single passenger who tested positive without exhibiting symptoms. A 21-person outbreak was found on another Carnival ship, the Grand Princess, off the California coast. Both ships each had over 3,500 passengers and crew.
Some cruises have been denied entry at ports all over the world, while cruise companies have suspended operations indefinitely.
Our cruise accident attorneys are monitoring the COVID-19 situation worldwide. If you fell seriously ill while on a cruise in the last month, consider calling us to learn your legal options: (888) 346-5024.