Panama's government gave permission to a cruise ship on which four passengers have died to travel through its canal, a day after blocking the liner over coronavirus fears.
Holland America Line's 238-metre (781-foot) MS Zaandam vessel, which has up to a dozen Irish citizens on board, can now continue its trip to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but Panama's government underscored that no passengers or crewmembers would be allowed to set foot on Panamanian soil. "Panama will guarantee biosecurity measures to protect the personnel who will participate in this manoeuvre and thus safeguard the health of Panamanians," the government said in a statement.