Quarantined Diamond Princess - Coronavirus petri dish?

The cruise ship, Diamond Princess, 3700 passengers and crew has captured global interest as it demonstrates what happens in confined spaces - virus spreads.

UPDATE 13 February: The Japanese ministry of health advises that 44 more people have tested positive coronavirus (COVID-19) aboard the Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 218 cases from the cruise ship. Also calling into question whether the quarantine strategy is working.

The health ministry said Thursday that 44 more people on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked off Yokohama have tested positive for COVID-19.

Among them are 29 Japanese and 15 non-Japanese. Forty-three of the new coronavirus cases were those of passengers, while one case was that of a crew member.

The new cases bring the number of passengers and crew members infected with the virus to 218.

As of today, 12 February, the ship is finishing up its first week of quarantine and every day more passengers are being removed from the ship having been diagnosed with novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Whether the original 14-day quarantine (19 February is expected date of release) will be extended remains to be seen, though one should expect such as more passengers are taken off the ship with COVID-19. To date, more than 135 have been removed from the ship.

Like every Princess Cruise ship, there is a medical facility on board. Normally staffed with one doctor, and a few nurses and technicians. In this instance, following quarantine, Princess reportedly augmented the medical staff with 45 doctors, 55 nurses and 45 pharmacists.

No doubt being confined to cabin and allowed out once per day (if that) is trying and feels like one is inside the county-jail. Being treated for COVID-19 in a Yokohama hospital is infinitely worse, especially if you don’t happen to be Japanese.

Holland America’s Westerdam was stuck at sea after Japanese authorities told the cruise ship that Yokohama was not available. Even though the Westerdam had no cases of coronavirus the ship found itself unwanted by numerous countries and only recently has been given permission to dock in Cambodia

From Center for Disease Control

CDC provided guidance to passengers on COVID-19 and how to maintain their personal hygiene and reduce the risk of exposure.

The guidance included:

• Stay in your room
• Practice social distancing when outside your room
• Monitor your health (take temperature twice a day)
• Cover your coughs and sneezes
• Clean your hands
• Maintain a distance of 6 feet from you cabin mate (if possible), crew and other passengers
• Wear face mask
• Avoid sharing household items, dishes, utensils, glasses, towels

From Princess:

Princess is publishing a-periodic notices on their website. Have refunded the passengers their cruise fares and provided 100% vouchers for a future cruise.

NOTE: The author of this piece is a share holder in Carnival Corporation, the parent company of Princess Cruises.

Read the latest from Securely Travel