The Minister of Economy, Finance, and Employment for the Community of Madrid expressed dissatisfaction this Saturday with the “lack of information” and coordination from the Central Government. This situation arises from the arrival in Madrid of Spanish citizens affected by a hantavirus outbreak detected on a cruise ship from Argentina.
From Leganés, the minister reported that no meetings have been held between the regional Executive and the Ministry of Health to establish transfer and isolation protocols for passengers to be admitted to Gómez Ulla Hospital.
“"The lack of information and serious meetings concerns us because it seems to be a sufficiently relevant and worrying issue."
Furthermore, the minister lamented the uncertainty surrounding the exact arrival date of those affected and criticized that information is being leaked “through the press and not through official channels.” She also questioned the contradictions within the Central Government itself regarding whether the isolation of cruise passengers would be voluntary or mandatory.
In this regard, the minister pointed out that “while one part of the Government said that this stay would be voluntary and therefore the isolation would be voluntary, and that was stated by the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Defense said no, that it was mandatory isolation.” In light of this, it has been demanded that technical criteria prevail over political considerations in health emergencies of this magnitude.
This disagreement follows the Superior Court of Justice of Madrid’s confirmation this Saturday of mandatory quarantine measures for Spanish passengers and crew members, or residents in Spain, from the cruise ship MV Hondius, after the hantavirus outbreak was detected on board. The judicial ruling supports seven days of isolation in individual rooms at the Central Defense Hospital Gómez Ulla.
