Spain Refuses, Then Relents: The Political Battle Over The Hondius Due To Hantavirus

The Canary Islands' president initially blocked the ship from docking in Tenerife, setting off a political standoff invoking memories of COVID-19 and Hantavirus, prompting a sharp rebuke from the WHO.

The decision to allow the MV Hondius to dock in Tenerife was not made without a fight. Fernando Clavijo, the president of Spain's Canary Islands and a member of the conservative People's Party,  the main opposition to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, declared he could not allow the ship to enter the Canaries, citing concern for islanders still haunted by their COVID-19 experiences and fears of Hantavirus exposure.

The WHO did not mince words in response. The organization stated publicly that "Spain has a moral and legal obligation to assist these people, among whom are several Spanish citizens." 

Spain's national health minister echoed this view, insisting that the ship docking in Tenerife posed no meaningful public health threat to the island's population.

"The president is seeking clarification why the vessel is heading for the Canaries, when people could be repatriated from Cape Verde." — Office of the Canary Islands President

Clavijo's office clarified that the regional government was not outright refusing to receive the vessel, but was "demanding clear information", questioning why direct repatriation of passengers from Cape Verde had not been arranged rather than leaving them on board for several additional days of sailing.

The political tension was further complicated when a medical evacuation flight carrying a critically ill passenger had to make an unscheduled landing at Gran Canaria Airport, also in the Canaries, to refuel, after being refused permission to do so in Morocco. 

A malfunction in the patient's medical equipment caused further delays. Meanwhile, two other evacuees landed safely in Amsterdam, where specialist Dutch medical teams awaited them. The episode underscored how even logistics were becoming entangled in the geopolitics of the crisis.

Spain's national health authorities ultimately prevailed. The ship is now sailing toward Tenerife's port of Granadilla, where comprehensive medical facilities and quarantine protocols are being prepared for arrival.