Spain's Public Health Commission has updated its protocol and set may 10 as day zero, extending the 42-day quarantine until june 21. The measure follows WHO recommendations and allows external visits starting next week if tests are negative.
The Public Health Commission approved this afternoon the change in the hantavirus outbreak management protocol for the MV Hondius cruise ship. From now on, may 10, the date when the Spanish passengers disembarked, is considered the start of the quarantine instead of may 6. This delays its end until june 21, in line with World Health Organization guidelines.
The protocol allows that, if next monday's PCR test is negative, people quarantined at the Gómez Ulla Hospital may receive visits with protective equipment and make supervised outings. Only those evacuated from the cruise ship will quarantine at this center, while other contacts will receive individualized assessments.
In a joint press conference, President Pedro Sánchez and WHO Director Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus described the disembarkation operation as a success. The director general praised Spanish leadership and confirmed that all passengers have now been located and are being monitored by their countries of origin.
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo criticized the central government for allegedly hiding information about a U.S. passenger. Health authorities reiterated that subsequent tests for this passenger were negative and that the risk to the population remains low.
