Panama Canal blocks Holland America cruise ship with 138 ill crew members and passengers, and 2 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board

LUIS ACOSTA/AFP via Getty Images

• The MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship dealing with an outbreak of respiratory illness onboard, will be barred from entering the Panama Canal, according to a Panama Canal Authority.
• Four passengers have died aboard the ship, and Holland America confirmed that two individuals have tested positive for COVID-19.
• The cruise line also confirmed there are 138 sick passengers and crew members on board the Zaandam.
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The Panama Canal Authority will block the MS Zaandam, a Holland America cruise ship with two confirmed cases of COVID-19 on board, from entering the canal.

"Following protocol of Panama's Ministry of Health, if a vessel has individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19 on board, it cannot make any port operations or transit the Canal," the Panama Canal Authority said in a statement sent to Business Insider on March 27.

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• 138 passengers and crew members have fallen ill aboard the stranded Holland America cruise so far, and a coronavirus test is still on the way

SEE ALSO: A cruise ship with 1,800 people is unable to dock at any local ports. Now 138 are sick, 4 are dead, and coronavirus cases are being confirmed on the stranded ship still at sea.

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