Images have revealed the interior of the quarantine block at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside, where 22 passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship are being held following a hantavirus outbreak that claimed three lives. The facility, which previously served as the UK's first Covid isolation centre in 2020, now houses individuals under observation after the virus emerged aboard the vessel.
Passenger Details and Arrival
Health authorities confirmed that 22 people arrived on Sunday, May 10, at Arrowe Park, after the Liverpool Echo exclusively broke the news of plans to bring them to Merseyside over the weekend. Those under observation include 20 British nationals, one German resident of the UK, and one Japanese passenger from the MV Hondius cruise liner. The passengers arrived by coach at 10:30 PM on Sunday and are expected to remain in the block for 72 hours. The accommodation sits apart from the main hospital building, and drivers and staff were spotted wearing masks and blue personal protective equipment (PPE). Passengers also wore masks, and the coaches were accompanied by a police escort.
Hantavirus Outbreak Details
Three individuals lost their lives following the virus outbreak aboard the vessel. One of them, a 69-year-old Dutch woman, was confirmed to have contracted the disease, which is carried by rodents. The remaining two deaths are still under investigation. The British nationals were evacuated from the MV Hondius shortly after 4 PM on Sunday before being transported by coach from the port at Granadilla de Abona to Tenerife South Airport, with some passengers waving and giving thumbs up while dressed in blue PPE as they passed waiting media.
Accommodation Block Features
Footage obtained by the Echo during the initial Covid quarantine period shows the flats, which are ordinarily intended to house hospital staff and were fully furnished throughout. Guests staying at the time were permitted to open their windows, from which they could enjoy views of the woodland and parkland surrounding the hospital. The windows of the block open onto surrounding woodland, providing a view of the natural environment.
Safety Measures and Public Reassurance
A joint statement was released by NHS England North West, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service, and Wirral Council as the agencies sought to reassure the public that the hospital remains fully operational, with passengers housed in a separate building from the main hospital. Should any passengers develop symptoms while at Arrowe Park, they will be transferred to the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, according to Wirral University Teaching Hospital Trust CEO Janelle Holmes. Those residing in the accommodation block on the grounds of the Wirral hospital will be prohibited from using any form of public transport when returning home to begin a 45-day period of self-isolation.
