A cruise ship scheduled to visit Saint Lucia on Saturday, February 1, 2020, was not granted clearance as high numbers of sick passengers were on board, says a press release published in St. Lucia News.
High number of sick passengers
The Department of Health & Wellness advised the public that based on information received from a cruise ship scheduled to visit Saint Lucia on Saturday, February 1, 2020.
It said that the decision was taken to deny clearance to this vessel as there were unusually high number of sick passengers on board.
Act of caution
The decision was taken out of an abundance of caution for human health and safety.
No suspect
It is noteworthy that the health authorities at no time suspected that there were any cases of the novel Coronavirus onboard the vessel.
False claims
Therefore would like to categorically dismiss any false claims that maybe in circulated. “This is something we do routinely, and because there is Corona it is hyped up.”
Contact
For more information, please contact the Office of the Chief Medical Officer or the Epidemiology Unit at 468-5309/ 468-5317 respectively.
Why is the entry denied?
The St Lucia Air and Seaports Authority (SLASPA), on the advice of the Ministry of Health, denied a cruise ship entry into St Lucia.
- Senior Health Officials received information and based on that information it was decided not to allow the ship to come in.
- There was a threat of respiratory disease on the cruise ship.
- The official also stated that there was no indication of the new strain of coronavirus.
- Voice Notes have been circulating on social media that there was a threat of the human Coronavirus, however health officials have dismissed the accusations.
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Source: St. Lucia News
