WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE WESTERDAM?

■ On Thursday, Cambodia — a staunch ally of Beijing — allowed the Westerdam cruise ship to dock at Sihanoukville.

■ It was met by the kingdom’s bombastic premier Hun Sen, who hugged disembarking passengers as he swiftly latched on to the Westerdam’s PR potential for a nation more often in the spotlight for human rights abuses.

■ His stance won applause from US President Donald Trump.

■ But three days later one Westerdam passenger, an 83-yearold American, was stopped on arrival in Malaysia and later diagnosed with the coronavirus.

■ Yesterday, Malaysia said more than 130 other passengers who also took the flight with the sick American woman left for the United States, Europe and Australia and Hong Kong.

■ Thailand, a flight hub already used by scores of the Westerdam passengers, yesterday mulled a ban on transit by cruise goers, as the region played

catch up to the risks posed by the boat. “Passengers on ship are at risk and travel by airplane will cause risk to other passengers,” Thai Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said.

■ Cruise operator Holland America is working with national health authorities “to investigate and follow up with individuals who may have come in contact with the guest”, chief medical officer Dr Grant Tarling has said.