The Dominican Republic refused a cruise ship to dock in La Romana on Thursday, February 27, amid concerns that a number of passengers displayed possible coronavirus symptoms, the 3rd such vessel turned away from port amid COVID-19 concerns.
The Dominican Public Health Ministry and Port Authority announced in a joint statement that 4 Filipinos, 2 British citizens and 2 Americans on the Fred Olsen-owned ship Braemar were under observation for symptoms including coughing, fever, and trouble breathing. The ship reported “a small number of influenza-like cases on board."
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines said in a statement that “No guests or crew are, or have been, displaying symptoms that are considered to be consistent with those of Coronavirus.”
The cruise ship is carrying 384 crew and 1128 passengers.
Public Health Minister Rafael Sanchez Cardenas said that officials “have ordered that [the ship] returns to its destination,” saying Braemar had already been barred from another unspecified port.
This announcement came the same day MSC Meraviglia was allowed to dock in Cozumel after being turned away in Jamaica and the Caymans over similar concerns.
Meanwhile, ms Westerdam was turned away by four countries prior to being allowed to dock in Cambodia earlier this month.
For other Braemar accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.
For Coronavirus updates on cruise ship quarantines (infected passengers and crew) and top-pandemic countries (COVID-19 cases and deaths, daily updated statistics) see at CruiseMapper's Norovirus page.