The crew of a Holland-owned cruise ship has been stranded at sea for more than two weeks at the Panama Canal and a mother of one of the Filipino crew members has sought help for her child to be brought home, GMA News reported.
The cruise ship MS Zaandam was denied port entry in several countries because of the fear that the dreaded coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will spread.
The mother of the 29-year-old crew member pleaded, “Lahat ngayon, denied entry na sila. May mga sakit na ang aming kamag–anak on board, nagkahawa–hawa na sila.”
“Please, President Duterte, Lahat po ng Pinoy iuwi po natin,” she said, adding that “Baka yung military ship ninyo pwede niyo na ipasundo.”
There are reportedly more than 100 Filipinos aboard the ship and the mother of the crew members said there are already sick personnel onboard.
GMA News tried to reach the employer, but has not yet responded as of posting time.
The media outfit also reached out to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration.
The Dutch cruise ship, according to a Reuters report, was allowed to pass through the Panama Canal on Sunday.
The ship was stuck off Panama’s Pacific coast after the company announced that the vessel had confirmed cases of the coronavirus on board and that four guests had died.
Company president Orlando Ashford urged authorities to allow people off the ship, describing the situation as a “test of our humanity.”
READ ALSO: Filipinos infected by coronavirus in Diamond Princess cruise ship now at 59
Zaandam guests that passed screening were moved to its sister ship Rotterdam before transiting the canal.
The ship is bound for Fort Lauderdale, but it is not yet clear if the crew members and passenger will be allowed to disembark.
“We cannot afford to have people who aren’t even Floridians dumped into South Florida using up those valuable resources,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis told Fox News on Monday, referring to the state’s medical facilities and hospital capacity.
DeSantis said on Monday that the best solution was to send medical help onto Zaandam.
As of Monday, 76 guests and 117 crew on Zaandam had an influenza-like illness, including eight people who have tested positive for the coronavirus.
READ ALSO: DFA: 80 Filipinos tested positive for coronavirus in Diamond Princess cruise ship
