The evacuation is expected to begin between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m., according to Spanish authorities.
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- The passengers, none of whom has displayed signs of infection, will be tested by Spanish health authorities to ensure they remain asymptomatic and then transported to land in small boats, according to Spanish officials.
- Sealed-off buses will then take passengers to the Spanish island's main airport, about 10 minutes away, where they will board flights to their respective countries.
- Spanish nationals are set to disembark first, with other nationalities to follow in groups, government officials said on Saturday.
The cruise ship, which arrived in Tenerife, has passengers classified as high-risk contacts, although none have shown signs of infection. Following testing, passengers will be taken to the island's main airport in sealed-off buses, where they will board flights back to their respective countries.
Spanish nationals will be prioritized in the evacuation process, with other nationalities following in groups. Meanwhile, thirty crew members will remain on board to sail the ship to the Netherlands for disinfection.
This evacuation comes as health authorities respond to the outbreak, which has prompted a level 3 emergency activation by the CDC, indicating a significant public health response is underway.
Left- and right-leaning outlets are covering this story differently — in which facts to emphasize, which context to include, and how to frame causes and consequences.
