Last Updated on March 3, 2020, 3:45 AM AST by Anthony Morris
The Health officials in the Dominican Republic reported on Sunday, what is being called the first confirmed case of the new and drastic coronavirus in the region of the Caribbean known for it being a major tourist attraction.
Meanwhile, the British cruise ship passengers who had been trapped at sea due to the fear of the infamous coronavirus were finally after all set to come home.
Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas informed that a 62-year-old Italian man had arrived in the country on Feb. 22 and he did not show any symptoms of the virus then.
He was being treated in isolation at a military hospital and had not shown severe complications.
The announcement came out shortly before the Braemar cruise ship that had been denied entry to the Dominican Republic owing to the fears of the coronavirus, found a place to dock in the Dutch territory of St. Maarten at last.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said on Sunday that two chartered airliners would be used carry passengers on the cruise back to Britain.
Whereas, other passengers, who were scheduled to board the cruise on Friday in the Dominican Republic, will be flown to St. Maarten to board there.
Dominican officials had barred the ship due to reports that a few of those aboard had a flu-like illness, but the cruise line said none had symptoms consistent with the new virus.
It was one of the three cruise ships that have been turned away from Caribbean ports over the past week.
The ships have been turned away from the Caribbean ports because of the concerns over possible viral infections, though no passengers on any of the ships have been confirmed to have the disease.
The broader Latin America region has reported several other cases of the COVID-19 illness since midweek. Mexico has reported four cases, Brazil two and Ecuador one, all involving people who had travelled recently to Europe.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
