Passengers disembark in Florida from coronavirus infected cruise ships

Roughly 1,200 passengers from two Norwegian cruise liners with coronavirus-infected patients have disembark in Florida.

The ships were stranded for days off the Florida coast, as state officials decided what to do with the American and foreign passengers.

The incident was just one of several similar ones in which state and federal officials have had to weigh helping those onboard with the risk of further spreading the virus on U.S. soil.

The two Holland America cruise line ships – with passengers and crew with flu-like symptoms – docked late Thursday at Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale.

At least nine passengers aboard the ships have reportedly tested positive for the virus, including one crew member and four passengers who have died. 

The decision to allow the ships to dock was made by Broward County (Florida) officials.  

Fourteen people aboard, one crew member and 13 passengers, were reportedly taken to nearby hospitals.  

About 40 of the other passengers reportedly are Floridians and were taken to their homes to self quarantine. The other passengers were allowed to take chartered flights home. 

As many as 75 people reportedly still remain quarantined on board, about 25 infected passengers and 50 crew members.