The Government meets with the countries involved and the Government of the Canary Islands to coordinate the situation of the MV Hondius ship

Coordination meeting between the Minister for Health, Mónica García, and the Minister for Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Government of the Canary Islands

The Minister for Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the Minister for Health, Mónica García, held an informational meeting with the President of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, at the Ministry of Health headquarters, regarding the protocols that will be followed with the passengers of the 'MV Hondius' who will disembark in the Canary Islands, for their monitoring and subsequent transfer to Madrid, in the case of the 14 Spanish citizens, and to their countries of origin, in the case of the rest of the passengers.

This meeting is part of the ongoing communication between the Government of Spain and the Government of the Canary Islands, both at the technical and institutional levels, since the beginning of the hantavirus health crisis.

Ministers Torres and García have expressed their full willingness to assist since learning of the infections on the cruise ship and their commitment to ensuring that the transfers are carried out with the utmost safety for both the patients and the public. In this regard, the Canary Islands President was informed that the 147 passengers currently travelling to the Canary Islands from Cape Verde remain asymptomatic and that the option of anchoring the ship upon its arrival at the Port of Granadilla (Tenerife) was already being considered, for various reasons, including the port's technical limitations, as it is not equipped for disembarking passengers.

In addition to calling for responsibility and trust in science, the ministers recalled that on 7 May 2026, and as has been the case since 6 May, two more technical meetings are planned between the Ministries of Health and Home Affairs with the Government of the Canary Islands. These meetings are part of the seven coordination meetings that the Government of Spain will hold with the Government Delegations and, at the European level, with the heads of health security and Civil Protection of the European Union.

Non official translation