Mexican authorities allowed Holland Aerica Line ship Ms Zuiderdam to dock on Tuesday and disembark passengers, despite the COVID-19 outbreak onboard, after they pledged to keep the country open only to cruise ships that follow the sanitary precautions. 

According to the state and federal authorities, MS Zuiderdam carried about 2,000 people (1200 passengers and 800 crew) and docked at the Port of Guaymas in northern Mexico, in the state of Sonora.  

The statement covers the conditions required for permitting the cruise ships to dock, saying that they will be accepted as long as World Health Organization international regulations are followed. In addition, they said that the people infected with COVID-19 on cruise ships who need medical attention will receive it, and milder or asymptomatic cases will be isolated from others on board.

Meanwhile, Holland America Line, the owner of MS Zuiderdam,  stated that a small number of fully vaccinated crew and passengers on Zuiderdam had tested positive for COVID-19, all with mild or no symptoms. They have been isolated, while their close contacts have been quarantined.

Zuiderdam currently sails on a 10-day cruise and is scheduled to return to San Diego on Jan. 2, the statement said.

The Health Minister of Sonora, Jose Luis Alomia announced on a press conference that 30 people had tested positive for COVID-19 on the Zuiderdam, consisting of 28 crew and two passengers - and were in isolation.

The government of Mexico, whose economy relies substantially on visitors from abroad for foreign exchange income, has been determined to keep the country open during the pandemic, imposing relatively few restrictions on tourism.