Coronavirus: Springfield couple awaits transfer off cruise ship on which 4 have died

Mary Ellen and Daniel Petruccelli, of Springfield, are anxiously awaiting transfer off a cruise ship on which four passengers have died after they were turned away from multiple South American ports amid the COVID-19 crisis.

The MS Zaandam and its more than 1,200 passengers and 500 crew members are among the global fallout created by the novel coronavirus pandemic. The couple, 69 and 71, respectively, are awaiting to transfer to another ship after clearing medical hurdles. They are reportedly among 305 Americans onboard.

It is unclear whether any of those American citizens were among those who succumbed to the virus that has infected 586,455 globally and claimed the lives of 26,889, according to the latest statistics.

“We are relieved to be leaving the ship. As the number of sick people increased our chances of being infected increased as well. Our temperature was taken, then we were given medical clearance. In addition, we have no mobility issues that require extra help,” said Mary Ellen Petruccelli, a retired Springfield school principal.

“Once the ‘healthy ones’ are on board the Rotterdam,” she added, referring to the transfer ship. “What happens next? Not a clue ... My guess is that we’ll go back into isolation, just in case people are carrying the virus but are asymptomatic."

U.S. government officials and those from other nations have been in negotiations with the Panamanian government to navigate through the Panama Canal and onto other ports. But, that passage has been further complicated by the deaths of the passengers.

U.S. Richard E. Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, and his staff have been working with U.S. State Department officials to assure American citizens safe passage home.

“The health and safety of the Petrucellis and the hundreds of Americans on board the Zandaam remains a top priority of Chairman Neal. We are in direct contact with the State Department on a daily basis in an effort to bring these citizens home in the most expeditious way possible," said William Tranghese, Neal’s chief of staff.

"Medical personnel are currently attending to passengers. Negotiations between the United States government and countries in the region are exploring every possible humanitarian option to offload these passengers. But clearly, time is of the essence,” Tranghese said.

The Petruccellis have been confined to the Holland America cruise ship since March 14, when they disembarked on the famed Isla Magdalena, near Punta Arenas, Chile, to mingle with penguins. They set sail earlier in March, aware, but cautiously optimistic the cornonavirus pandemic would not gain speed.

However, by mid-March, they were denied access to scheduled destinations and the captain pointed the ship north after refueling and receiving refreshed supplies.

Passengers have been confined to their staterooms since March 22, the couple said during an interview, after the captain announced more than 100 passengers and crew had fallen ill with “flu-like symptoms.” The MS Rotterdam delivered medical supplies, including test kits, early Wednesday morning, the Petrucellis said.

The couple has had meals, drinks, clean towels and other supplies delivered to them with a quick knock at the door since then. Mary Ellen Petruccelli said she and her husband, a retired Eversource employee, boarded the ship with Lysol wipes and plans to dine at a private table, though they typically enjoy dining on cruises with new friends from other countries.

“When we went on the trip, we made a conscious choice to keep our distance, which is usually not our way, because it’s so interesting to meet people from other places," she said, also expressing grief for the passengers who did not survive the trip.

“This is so sad for their families. A wonderful trip turns into a tragedy,” she said.

The Petruccellis set sail just days before the U.S. State Department warned Americans not to travel on cruise ships and many cruise lines suspended trips.

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