Cruise Ship With Sick Passengers Allowed to Dock in Florida A Holland America cruise ship, the Zaandam, <br />and its sister ship, the Rotterdam, <br />will dock in Florida on Thursday. Four people have died so far on <br />the Zaandam. At least two of the deaths <br />were confirmed to be due to coronavirus. Nine other passengers have tested positive <br />for COVID-19, and 179 more people have <br />flu-like symptoms. The Zaandam left Buenos Aires on March 7 <br />for a two-week trip originally scheduled <br />to end in Chile on March 21. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis <br />previously said that he did not want <br />the ships' passengers "dumped" there. DeSantis changed his stance on Wednesday, <br />saying that he wants "everyone to be safe." Nine passengers will be taken to a local hospital, <br />and 45 sick passengers will remain on board. More than 300 Americans are on board <br />the two ships, including 49 Florida residents.
