Passengers of a virusstricken ship off California voiced frustrations.

Offshore limbo goes on for virus-stricken liner

SAN FRANCISCO — Cruise officials and passengers confined to their rooms on a ship circling international waters off the San Francisco Bay voiced frustration as the weekend wore on with no direction from authorities on where to go after 21 people on board tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The Grand Princess was forbidden to dock in San Francisco amid evidence that the vessel was the breeding ground for a cluster of about 20 cases that resulted in at least one death after its previous voyage. The ship is carrying more than 3,500 people from 54 countries, including three people from Summerlin.

Jan Swartz, group president of Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia, told reporters Saturday that cruise officials want guests and crew off the ship as soon as possible, but the decision-making is out of their hands.

“From where we sit, there are many different authorities involved in the decision, and we are awaiting that decision,” she said. “So we are hopeful that decision will be made quickly so our guests and team can be cared for.”

The U.S. death toll from the virus climbed to 19, with all but three of the victims in Washington state. The number of infections swelled to more than 400, scattered across states. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Kansas reported their first cases.

In California, state authorities were working with federal officials to bring the 951-foot Grand Princess cruise ship to a noncommercial port and test those aboard.

Vice President Mike Pence said at a Saturday meeting with cruise line executives in Florida that officials were still working on a plan.

“All passengers and crew will be tested for the coronavirus and quarantined as necessary,” Pence said.

On social media, people pleaded Saturday with elected officials to let the ship dock as they endured a second full day confined to their rooms.

Passenger Karen Dever, of Moorestown, New Jersey, agreed she should be tested but wants officials to let her go if her results come back negative. “Fourteen more days on this ship, I think by the end I will need a mental health visit,” she said.

The Associated Press Medical personnel with the 129th Rescue Wing of the California Air National Guard don protective equipment after delivering coronavirus testing kits Thursday to the Grand Princess cruise ship off the coast of California.