Indonesian crews on MS Westerdam cruise ship docked in Cambodia to be re-examined

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 08:29 am

All of passengers and crews will be be re-examined by Cambodian authorities after a passenger reportedly carried the novel coronavirus. This also including hundreds of Indonesian nationals who are crews of that cruise ship.  

“The Cambodian government will conduct re-examination. If they are declared clear [from the virus infection], they are allowed to sail,” Director for the Protection of Citizens and Legal Entities Overseas of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Judha Nugraha said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta, Wednesday, February 19.

As informed, the total of Indonesians registered as crew members are 362 people. Of 60 out of that total crew members had completed work contracts, and 27 people of them had returned to Indonesia on February 15, whilst the rest are still in Cambodia.

MS Westerdam cruise ship was being turned away by five countries over the virus fears. Then the cruise ship with 1,455 passengers and 802 crews, had finally docked in Cambodia on Thursday, February 13.

Accroding to The Cambodian Health Ministry, none of the passengers was infected by the virus or COVID-19. This was announced after the health screenings towards samples from passengers with any signs of ill health or flu-like symptoms upon their arrival.

The Cambodian Health Ministry announced that none of the passengers was infected by the virus or COVID-19 following the health screenings towards samples from passengers with any signs of ill health or flu-like symptoms upon their arrival.  

As reported earlier, a passenger who took transit in Malaysia by a chartered flight from Cambodia to the United States was tested positive for the coronavirus. That US citizen underwent health screenings by the Malaysian authorities, however her husband tested negative.