Comparison
Country protocols
Each country's health authority applies a different protocol for its MV Hondius repatriated nationals. Last updated: .
Containment matrix by country
Five measures applied by each country to its MV Hondius repatriated nationals, at a glance. Colour coded from strictest (red) to lightest (grey).
| Country | People involved | Isolation setting | Max duration | Legal framework | Testing regime | Overall index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Australia | 6 ship (4 AU + 1 resident + 1 NZ) |
Dedicated centre Bullsbrook (Perth), former COVID centre |
→ late June initial 21 d extended to late June 2026 (M. Butler, 28 May) |
Health Department Mark Butler — “strongest of all countries” |
Not detailed | Strict |
| Belgium | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Canada | 4 ship + 10 monitored (3 ex-Saint Helena + 1 KL592 contact) |
Self-isolation Bagotville → Victoria |
21 d | PHAC + BC Health | PCR tests on symptomatic individuals 1 positive BC CDC (16 May), NML Winnipeg confirmation pending |
Tightened |
| Switzerland | 1 ship + 1 crew + 2 home isolation |
Individual monitoring Protocol not published |
42 d | Not published OFSP / BAG |
Not detailed | Light |
| Chile | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Germany | ≥ 1 ship Total not published by RKI |
Initial hospital Düsseldorf, then monitoring |
42 d | RKI surveillance | Not detailed | Strict |
| Spain | 14 ship (2 confirmed incl. 1 asympt. + 12 negative) |
Military hospital Gómez Ulla (Madrid) |
42 d | Min. Sanidad Announced by Mónica García |
Admission + exit PCR 2/14 positive, 12 negative |
Strict |
| France | 5 ship + 22 flight = 27 (incl. 1 confirmed, 26 negative contacts) |
Hospital Bichat, Pitié, Rennes, Marseille, Angers |
42 d ≈ 15 d for asymptomatic contacts |
Decree + Order Order 9 May + Decree 11 May |
3 PCR / week SpF + INSERM + ANRS MIE |
Strict |
| United Kingdom | 20 ship + 22 cohort (Arrowe Park observation) |
Dedicated centre Arrowe Park Hospital (Merseyside) |
45 d | UKHSA framework No specific decree |
Daily contact UKHSA Health Protection Teams |
Strict |
| Greece | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Ireland | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Netherlands | 29 ship + 12 staff (12 Radboud UMC procedural quarantine) |
Home Mandatory 6-week quarantine |
42 d | Ministerial decision + RIVM | Exit PCR RIVM reports 26 PCR− on 12 May |
Strict |
| New Zealand | 1 ship (repatriated via AU Bullsbrook) |
Dedicated centre (via AU) Bullsbrook (Perth) |
21 d | Min. of Health NZ | Aligned with AU protocol | Strict |
| Poland | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Portugal | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| Türkiye | Not available | Not available | — | Not published | — | n/a |
| United States | 17 ship + 4 flight (2 Maryland + 2 California under monitoring) |
Federal centre National Quarantine Center (Nebraska) + Emory (Atlanta) |
42 d Ends 22 June 2026; asymptomatic passengers may finish at home since 1 June |
CDC HAN-528 (Level 3) | CDC evaluation + state health departments handover |
Strict |
| South Africa | 0 ship + ~50 flight (4Z132 contacts in Gauteng, 10 under monitoring) |
Hospital + monitoring Johannesburg + Gauteng |
42 d | NICD | Daily monitoring Gauteng — 10 under follow-up |
Strict |
Colour code:
Red = most restrictive option in the category.
Orange = intermediate.
Grey = not published / not detailed.
Source: data declared by each national health authority, updated on June 5, 2026. Rows in light grey are countries where WHO / ECDC mention the presence of nationals or contacts but no national authority has published a detailed protocol.
Summary by strictness
| Country | Headcount | Isolation | Duration | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | ANLIS Malbrán |
| Australia | 6 | Quarantine at the Bullsbrook centre (Perth outskirts) — initially 21 days, extended to late June 2026 | 21 days | Australian Department of Health |
| Belgium | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | Sciensano |
| Canada | 14 | 21-day self-isolation in Victoria (British Columbia) after Bagotville transit | 21 days | PHAC + BC Health |
| Switzerland | 1 | Individual surveillance (protocol not publicly detailed) | 42 days | OFSP |
| Chile | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | MINSAL Chili |
| Germany | n/a | Initial hospitalisation (Düsseldorf), then surveillance | 42 days | RKI |
| Spain | 14 | 42-day quarantine at Gómez Ulla Military Hospital (Madrid) | 42 days | Ministerio de Sanidad |
| France | 5 | 42-day hospitalisation at Bichat (decree published in Official Journal 11 May 2026) | 42 days | Matignon + Quai d'Orsay + ARS |
| United Kingdom | 20 | Mandatory isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital (Merseyside) | 45 days | UKHSA |
| Greece | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | EODY |
| Ireland | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | HSE |
| Netherlands | 29 | Mandatory 6-week home quarantine | 42 days | RIVM |
| New Zealand | 1 | Joint flight with Australia to Perth base, then Bullsbrook quarantine | 21 days | Ministry of Health NZ |
| Poland | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | NIZP-PZH |
| Portugal | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | DGS Portugal |
| Türkiye | n/a | Not available — no published national protocol | days | Türkiye Sağlık Bakanlığı |
| United States | 17 | 42-day federal quarantine at the National Quarantine Unit (Omaha, Nebraska); since 1 June 2026, asymptomatic passengers may return home to complete the quarantine under State monitoring | 42 days | CDC |
| South Africa | 50 | Hospital + daily monitoring in Gauteng | 42 days | NICD |
Country-by-country detail
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Argentina
Country of departure of the MV Hondius (Ushuaia, 1 April 2026). WHO working hypothesis: Case 1 most probably acquired the infection in Argentina before boarding (environmental exposure). No national quarantine protocol published.
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Australia
Australia applies a quarantine at the Bullsbrook centre (former COVID site near Perth) for its 6 passengers — 4 Australians, 1 permanent resident, 1 New Zealander. None are symptomatic. Initially set at a minimum of 21 days from the 15 May 2026 arrival, the quarantine was extended to late June 2026 on the advice of Federal Health Minister Mark Butler (ABC News / AP, 28 May 2026).
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Belgium
A few Belgian nationals among passengers or identified contacts. No specific national protocol published — monitoring likely under the standard ECDC framework.
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Canada
Canada applies a 21-day self-isolation for its 4 MV Hondius nationals (+ 10 monitored persons), after Bagotville transit and Victoria transfer. <strong>1 presumptive positive case</strong> announced on 16 May 2026 by Dr Bonnie Henry (BC provincial health officer): a Yukon resident, Andes strain, NML Winnipeg confirmation expected within 48 h.
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Switzerland
Switzerland has 1 declared confirmed case, with no detailed public communication of the applied protocol so far.
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Chile
Geographic origin country of the Andes virus (strain identified during the 1997 Coyhaique outbreak). No Chilean national explicitly named among MV Hondius contacts to date.
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Germany
Germany already has one case hospitalised in Düsseldorf and lost one national on board. The RKI coordinates the surveillance of returning passengers in Frankfurt.
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Spain
Spain applies a 42-day quarantine at Gómez Ulla military hospital (Madrid) for its 14 MV Hondius repatriates: 2 confirmed cases (Case 11 asymptomatic on 11 May + a 2nd case announced on 25 May 2026) + 12 still negative. Announced by the Spanish Ministry of Health (Mónica García).
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France
France applies one of the strictest protocols, alongside the UK: decree published in the Official Journal of 11 May 2026 imposing a 42-day hospitalisation at Bichat for the 5 MV Hondius passengers, 1 of whom tested positive. 20 additional contact cases identified in France via a Johannesburg flight.
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United Kingdom
The UK applies the strictest protocol: 45 days of mandatory isolation at Arrowe Park Hospital, the former COVID quarantine site. No public transport allowed for the return home.
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Greece
A few Greek nationals listed among MV Hondius contacts. No detailed national protocol published.
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Ireland
A few Irish nationals listed among MV Hondius contacts. No detailed national protocol published.
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Netherlands
The Netherlands applies a mandatory 6-week home quarantine for its 29 nationals — equivalent to the maximum incubation period. Decision taken on RIVM advice by the Health Minister.
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New Zealand
New Zealand has 1 national on the MV Hondius, repatriated on 14 May in a joint flight with the Australians to Perth, under the Australian protocol (21 d at Bullsbrook).
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Poland
A few Polish nationals listed among MV Hondius contacts. No detailed national protocol published.
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Portugal
A few Portuguese nationals listed among MV Hondius contacts. No detailed national protocol published.
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Türkiye
A few Turkish nationals listed among MV Hondius contacts. No detailed national protocol published.
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United States
The United States applies a strict protocol: American passengers are escorted by a CDC team to the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha (Nebraska) for a 42-day quarantine (ending 22 June 2026). Since 1 June 2026, asymptomatic passengers may complete it at home under State monitoring. No American national has tested positive to date.
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South Africa
South Africa is involved with 1 death (Case 2 in Johannesburg) + ~50 flight 4Z132 contacts traced in Gauteng, under daily NICD monitoring. Case 3 (British) is also evacuated to Johannesburg ICU.