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Up to 16 Kiwis disembarked Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia, where passenger later tested positive for coronavirus

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Up to 16 Kiwis disembarked the Westerdam cruise ship in Cambodia and are currently travelling after a US passenger on the ship was diagnosed with having the coronavirus Covid-19 a short time after also leaving the ship.

The Westerdam was stranded at sea for days, when multiple countries – including Japan – turned the ship away over fears passengers on board may be infected with Covid-19.

However, on Saturday Cambodia allowed the ship to dock there and passengers were greeted with hugs and handshakes by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen as they disembarked.

Later that same day, an 83-year-old US woman who had been on the ship tested positive for Covid-19 during a stop-over in Malaysia.

Today, officials with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told 1 NEWS they are aware of “15 New Zealand passengers and possibly one crew member on board the Westerdam cruise ship which was docked in Sihanoukville, Cambodia".

“All the passengers on board this ship were cleared to disembark,” MFAT said.

MFAT also says they are in contact with “some passengers still travelling”.

The Ministry of Health today said a family of five have returned to New Zealand from the Westerdam, with two of them being tested for Covid-19 after showing symptoms. Those tests came back negative.

The family is in self-isolation along with another eight people who returned to New Zealand from the cruise.

This makes a total of 13 people from the Westerdam cruise ship who are now back in the country.

There’s a big catch to the evacuation – another fortnight in isolation, this time in New Zealand.

The Holland America Line’s - who operate the Westerdam – most recent statement says there are still over 1000 people on board the ship in Cambodia who are being tested for Covid-19.

"Westerdam remains alongside in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, where officials from the Cambodian Health Ministry are on board today to complete testing for COVID-19 on the 255 guests and 747 crew that are awaiting clearance.

"We anticipate this will take several days and greatly appreciate the thoroughness of all authorities involved in resolving this situation."

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