5 Canadians aboard quarantined cruise ship test positive for coronavirus

Feb 7 2020, 3:47 pm

Five Canadians have tested positive for coronavirus aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is currently quarantined near Japan.

According to a statement from Princess Cruises, 41 people have tested positive for coronavirus and, besides the Canadians, those include one passenger from Argentina, five Australians, 21 from Japan, one from the United Kingdom, and eight Americans.

On Wednesday, Princess Cruises said 251 Canadians are onboard the Diamond Princess.

“The Japanese Ministry of Health has confirmed this is the last batch to be tested and the quarantine end date will be February 19, unless there are any other unforeseen developments. The Japanese government is also providing our ship and team members additional manpower support,” said the cruise line.

Earlier this week, Princess Cruises said the ship plans to go out to sea to “perform normal marine operations including, but not limited to, the production of fresh water and ballast operations before proceeding alongside in Yokohama where food, provisions, and other supplies will be brought on board.”

Complimentary internet and telephone use has been provided to guests to contact family and friends.

One of the guests on board is David Abel, who has been sharing his experience on the ship since the quarantine.

“Passengers with inside cabins are now allowed to walk on the deck for 1.5 hours under the supervision of the Quarantine officers,” Abel said in a post on Thursday. “They must stay 1 metre apart from one another and not make contact or congregate in groups.”

Princess Cruises said that it will be cancelling the next two Diamond Princess cruises departing Yokohama on February 4 and February 12.

There are 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew currently onboard covering a range of nationalities, and Princess Cruises confirmed that approximately half the guests onboard are from Japan.

Daily Hive StaffDaily Hive Staff

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