Coronavirus: Ten more cases confirmed on Princess Cruises ship

Coronavirus: Ten more cases confirmed on Princess Cruises ship

A further 10 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed on Diamond Princess in Yokohama taking the total number of passengers infected to 20.

Diamond Princess is being detained in Yokohama and guests confined to their cabins after a previous passenger was found to have the virus after disembarking.

On Wednesday the line confirmed ten people had tested positive for the virus and the ship was being quarantined for two weeks.

A tweet from Princess Cruises on Thursday said: “We can confirm that among the second set of samples that have completed testing, ten additional people have tested positive for coronavirus.

“Local public health authorities will disembark those guests for transport to local hospitals immediately.”

In further tweets the cruise line said: “While we know this is a challenging time for our #DiamondPrincess guests and crew in Japan, and their loved ones, we want to acknowledge the support and commitment of all on board.

“Thank you to our guests, who have dealt with a tough situation with grace and understanding.

“Thank you to our crew, who continue to diligently provide for all onboard needs. And thank you to all who have sent messages of support & love as we continue to ensure the safety & well-being of our guests, crew, and places we visit.”

Princess Cruises Tweet

@PrincessCruises
 We can confirm that among the second set of samples that have completed testing,10 additional people have tested positive for Coronavirus. Local public health authorities will disembark those guests for transport to local hospitals immediately.

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5:17 AM - Feb 6, 2020

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The first 10 people diagnosed have been transferred to shore to receive treatment.

Of those 10, one is from the US, two are from Australia, three from Japan, three from Hong Kong and the tenth is a Filipino crew member.

Princess Cruises is providing guests with complimentary internet and phone service.

The ship will remain at sea to “perform normal marine operations” before taking on more provisions in Yokohama, Princess Cruises said.

The next two Diamond Princess cruises that were due to depart from Yokohama have been cancelled.

Among the passengers trapped on the ship are British couple David Abel and his wife Sally who have been featured on news outlets explaining their situation via video.

David Abel described the situation as being in jail for two weeks and said the ship was like a “ghost town”.

Images posted online have shown Princess Cruises crew delivering meals staterooms wearing protective clothing and the ship undergoing a deep clean.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises’ vice president UK & Europe, said: “We would like to thank the trade for their support during this challenging time.

“We are continuing to work alongside agents to secure the best outcome for everyone concerned. When guests face significant issues we are fortunate we can rely on our trade partners, who always go above and beyond to provide help and assistance.”