Havana, March 16 (RHC)-- At the request of British government, Cuba has authorized the docking in the country of MS Braemar cruise ship with small number of passengers testing positive for COVID-19.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla made the announcement on Twitter this Monday.

The minister added that the decision responds to a health emergency, in which the lives of sick people may be at risk.

He added that sanitary measures established in WHO and Cuban Public Health Ministry protocols will be implemented to receive passengers and crew.

As the pandemic expands, multiple cruise ships are being left stranded at sea.

Rodriguez added that once travelers arrive on the Island, they will be treated by health care authorities and safely flown back to the U.K.

The ship has been stranded for several days with 5 people with coronavirus on board, among 682 passengers and 381 crew.