Half of cruise passengers leave ship in Cambodia after no virus cases

A mother and daughter waving at medical officers from the MS Westerdam docked at the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Saturday (Feb 15). About 1,200 of the 2,257 passengers and crew aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam disembarked in the Cambodian port at Sihanoukville during the course of Friday and Saturday, with most flying to the capital Phnom Penh for further travel, said Kheang Phearum, a provincial government spokesman. - AP

PHNOM PENH: More than half of the people aboard a luxury cruise ship that was turned away by several Asian nations due to fears that passengers could be carrying the newest coronavirus have disembarked in Cambodia, a Cambodian official said on Saturday (Feb 15).

About 1,200 of the 2,257 passengers and crew aboard Holland America Line's Westerdam disembarked in the Cambodian port at Sihanoukville during the course of Friday and Saturday, with most flying to the capital Phnom Penh for further travel, said Kheang Phearum, a provincial government spokesman.