What’s next for the ‘Hondius’ passengers? From Spain’s strict isolation to home quarantine in the Netherlands

Passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are returning to their home countries, where they face weeks of quarantine. However, both the duration and method of isolation vary depending on the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 42 days of monitoring and quarantine at home or in a healthcare facility, a guideline that is subject to different interpretations: countries such as Canada have initially established 21 days of isolation, to be evaluated afterward; the Netherlands allows quarantine at home with walks outdoors, while Greece imposes 45 days in a hospital under special conditions.

Spain

The 14 Spaniards from the cruise ship are under mandatory quarantine at the Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital in Madrid. The Spanish Ministry of Health’s protocol includes individual rooms, no visitors, PCR tests upon admission and again after seven days, temperature checks twice daily, and active monitoring. The Secretary of State for Health, Javier Padilla, explained to Spanish public broadcaster TVE that the first week will be stricter and that the isolation measures will then be eased, with family visits allowed under certain conditions.

Early Monday evening, it was learned that one of the Spaniards tested provisionally positive in the PCR test administered upon arrival, while the other 13 tested negative, according to the government. None of the passengers has symptoms.

France

One of the five French passengers has tested positive for hantavirus. The woman, whose symptoms have worsened in recent hours, remains hospitalized in a specialized infectious disease hospital. The other four will remain hospitalized for a minimum of 15 days, according to an announcement by Health Minister Stéphanie Rist. However, a decree approved on Monday by the French government stipulates that isolation must last 42 days.

United Kingdom

The U.K. government announced that it has transferred 20 British citizens, a German resident in the U.K., and a Japanese passenger to Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral. They will remain there for 72 hours for a clinical assessment. After this, the Japanese passenger will be repatriated, and the others will be asked to self-isolate at home for 45 days, during which time health authorities will maintain daily contact with them.

United States

The 17 repatriated U.S. citizens were transferred to Omaha, Nebraska. One of them has tested positive for hantavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the plan is to transfer them to a quarantine facility affiliated with the University of Nebraska. The isolation period and monitoring will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, depending on the risk.

Canada

The four repatriated Canadians, all asymptomatic, will be assessed by health authorities upon arrival in British Columbia and then transferred to a predetermined location to complete a minimum 21-day self-isolation period, counted from May 6, the date of the last confirmed case on board. At the end of this period, public health authorities will review their clinical status and decide whether to extend the measure to a maximum of 42 days. During quarantine, they will receive regular health monitoring, access to medical care, psychological support, assistance with personal items, and diagnostic testing if they develop symptoms.

Netherlands

The eight Dutch passengers who returned to the Netherlands by plane from Tenerife have begun a 42-day home quarantine. They are allowed to go for walks occasionally, wearing masks and maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters from other people. According to the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), “similar measures are being taken in other outbreaks, such as tuberculosis.” “Experience shows us that those affected comply very well with the measures,” stated an RIVM spokesperson. Sophie Hermans, the Dutch minister of health, told public broadcaster NOS that she considers the risk of hantavirus spreading to be “very small,” since “we are in a different situation than with COVID-19,” she said.

Crew members from other countries will also be allowed to remain in the Netherlands, as it is the country responsible for the vessel. This is the case, for example, for the 38 Filipinos, the nationality most represented on the cruise, as announced by their own government.

Australia

Australia has centralized the reception of six passengers in Western Australia (including a New Zealand citizen). The returnees will arrive at the Australian Air Force’s Pearce Air Base and be transferred to the Bullsbrook National Resilience Centre, where staff will be protected, and there will be no contact with the community. The Western Australian government says that none of the passengers were symptomatic and that the center has medical facilities. Health Minister Mark Butler added that the quarantine will take place in a Western Australian facility for a minimum of three weeks.

Germany

The German Ministry of Health confirmed the arrival of four German passengers from the cruise ship affected by the hantavirus outbreak at Frankfurt University Hospital in the early hours of Monday morning. The decision regarding quarantine conditions rests with the authorities of each federal state. The Robert Koch Institute has recommended that those who have been in contact with the outbreak remain in quarantine for six weeks after their last possible exposure.

“In principle, home quarantine is possible. The decision as to whether quarantine can be carried out in the home environment should be made taking into account the general circumstances. These include, in particular, the personal situation of the affected person, access to adequate clinical care, and the guarantee of active daily monitoring,” the institute wrote in a guide for health services.

Ireland

Two Irish passengers are in isolation at a facility run by the country’s health authorities, and will remain there for 42 days, counting from May 6, according to the Irish Independent.

Greece

The sole Greek passenger, who remains asymptomatic, will be quarantined for 45 days in a negative pressure room (a special room to prevent contamination of adjacent areas) at the Attikon University Hospital in Athens, according to the Greek Health Ministry.

Singapore

The two men from Singapore are in isolation at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, where they will remain for 30 days. Before leaving, they will be tested and monitored by phone for up to 45 days after their last contact.

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