Cambodia PM defends ship docking despite virus diagnosis

A Cambodian medic (second from left) carries samples from people onboard the Westerdam cruise ship to a helicopter in Sihanoukville on Feb18, 2020, as authorities checked if any passengers that remained could have the Covid-19 virus. - AFP

SIHANOUKVILLE, Cambodia (AFP): Cambodia's strongman premier defended on Tuesday (Feb 18) his decision to allow a US cruise ship to dock despite at least one passenger later being diagnosed with the deadly coronavirus, while authorities scrambled to track down hundreds that came in contact with her.

The Westerdam was turned away by several Asian ports before Cambodia agreed last week to allow its more than 2,000 passengers and crew to disembark.