The US President reports RTE News, has said that US authorities will evacuate passengers from a stranded cruise ship which is due to dock in Florida after being barred from several South American countries because of a coronavirus outbreak aboard.

Both the cruise ship Zaandam, where dozens of people have fallen ill, and its sister ship Rotterdam are due to enter US waters early today ahead of their expected docking in Fort Lauderdale.

Around ten Irish citizens remain stranded on board the Zaandam cruise ship.

Mr Trump said the US was "sending medical teams on board the ships" and taking people off, with foreigners sent home.

"We're taking the Canadians off and giving them to Canadian authorities," he said. "Same thing with the UK. But we have to help the people. They're in big trouble."

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On board a Dutch flagged cruise ship is where a coronavirus outbreak has occurred with several Irish citizens travelling is expected to dock in Florida, USA in the coming days, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said.

Four people have died on the MS Zaandam, though it is understood that none of the deceased is Irish.

The ship has 1,243 guests and 586 crew on board.

Dozens of guests have been suffering from influenza-like symptoms, the vessel’s operator said last week when the ship was off the coast of Panama.

For more on the story reports The Irish Times here.