Coronavirus cases rise on cruise ship
At least 20 Americans among those diagnosed
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship anchored off the coast of Japan has nearly doubled.
Sixty-six more people, including another 11 Americans, have fallen ill on the Princess Cruises ship, meaning at least 135 passengers onboard have been diagnosed with coronavirus. At least 20 Americans in total have been diagnosed onboard.
Princess Cruises is working to confirm the total number of cases and the nationalities of all those infected. The cruise line is working with authorities to plan for the passengers who have recently become ill to disembark so that they can be taken to a hospital.
The coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, has spread across the globe.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship has nearly doubled.
Sixty-six more people, including another 11 Americans, have fallen ill on the Princess Cruises cruise ship that is quarantined off the coast of Japan, meaning at least 135 passengers onboard have been diagnosed with coronavirus. At least 20 Americans in total have been diagnosed onboard.
The ship was carrying 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew onboard when it set sail Jan. 20.
Due to the quarantine, “it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine,” Princess Cruises said in a statement provided by Negin Kamali, director of public relations. The cruise line is working to confirm the total number of cases and the nationalities of all those infected.
Princess Cruises is working with authorities to plan for the passengers who have recently become ill to disembark so that they can be taken to a hospital.
The cruise ship is one of several affected by the deadly coronavirus outbreak, which has prompted cruise lines to issue quarantines and perform screenings onboard.
The coronavirus, which was first identified in Wuhan, China, has spread across the globe with more than 40,500 confirmed cases and 910 deaths as of Monday morning. The majority of the cases are in mainland China. Common signs of infection include fever, cough and breathing difficulties.
One American has died in China, the U.S. embassy in Beijing reported Saturday morning. And the coronavirus death toll surpassed the SARS outbreak of 2002 to 2003.
The Diamond Princess was to remain under quarantine until Feb. 19, pending any unforeseen circumstances.
Passengers on the ship have been instructed to stay in their suites or cabins during the quarantine.
Those in interior cabins with no window or outdoor access have been able to go on deck for up to an hour and a half but must stay at least 3 feet from fellow passengers, Matt Smith, an attorney from Sacramento, California, told USA TODAY on Friday.
Smith says the situation is “inconvenient,” but that he and his travel companion, Katherine Codekas, are comfortable onboard, with fresh water, electricity and meals dropped off at the door by the ship’s crew.
Status updates from the ship’s captain have increased and improved as the quarantine has gone on, Smith said.
On Monday, Smith told USA TODAY that they are still doing fine, though they have little sense of the atmosphere aboard the ship.
“It’s almost like we’re on the ship alone except for the crew who bring us food and things and occasional voices from nearby balconies,” he said.