It’s been described as “a floating prison.” As coronavirus cases skyrocket in China and additional cases are reported worldwide, a cruise ship has become an unlikely focal point of the disease.
All 3,700 passengers and crew aboard the Diamond Princess have been quarantined off the coast of Japan since Feb. 3 after a man who had been on the ship tested positive for coronavirus. Passengers are confined to their rooms until the quarantine is lifted.
Since then, there have been 61 confirmed cases of the disease on the ship. At least eight Americans have been infected.
The Japanese government plans to continue the quarantine until Feb. 19 “unless there are any other unforeseen developments” according to Princess Cruises, the ship’s owner. The cruise was originally scheduled to end on Feb. 4.
In a video circulating on Twitter that was first posted by Time magazine, American couple Karey and Roger Maniscalco said that things aboard the Diamond Princess have been calm, if anxious. They said they haven’t had any contact with other guests and that staff has been delivering food wearing gloves and masks.
“We’re not so worried about the virus spreading at this point,” Roger said.
Passengers on a virus-stricken cruise ship in Japan speak about life under quarantine https://t.co/JY0D4Aoj97 pic.twitter.com/WUcN1nFee9
— TIME (@TIME) February 7, 2020
Efforts are ongoing to accommodate passengers’ health and nutritional needs, such as by procuring baby formula—there are reportedly five infants on the ship—and prescriptions. To combat boredom, the ship has increased television and video offerings and is passing out crossword puzzles, children’s activity packs, and newspapers. It has also made WiFi and telephone service free to all.
Passengers are sharing their experiences on social media. Videos and photos emerging from the ship show the monotony of being stuck inside a cabin, which is affecting passengers to varying degrees. Passengers in windowless interior rooms seem to be the worst off. The condition of staff who are working through the quarantine is unknown.
Anxious faces, thermometers, and official notifications are interspersed with photos of meals, sunsets, and people trying to make the best of the experience.
#day3 #coronavirus #coronaoutbreak #Quarantine on #DiamondPrincess #repost #accidentlydelete pic.twitter.com/Ug7Q44ZX4u
— Hong Kong 97 (@Hong_Kong97) February 7, 2020
Distributed aboard #DiamondPrincess with instructions to take out own temperatures several times a day and report if it is 37.5 Celsius or greater. (For us Americans, Google tells me that’s 99.5 Fahrenheit.) pic.twitter.com/zZ8RWGGkmH
— Matthew Smith (@mjswhitebread) February 7, 2020
“In my spare time, I twist balloons, sing and exercise.”
— Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) February 7, 2020
Stranded off Japan’s Yokohama port, here’s how this couple is coping with a #CoronavirusOutbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. More @business: https://t.co/9e1vzkK4kd #coronavirus #クルーズ船 pic.twitter.com/eBhFQ7uqE4
I’d like to share what it’s like on board the Diamond Princess cruise. Please use this page to exchange info. #DiamondPrincess #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/wRLdy63suj
— だぁ(On board the Diamond Princess / 乗船中乗客) (@daxa_tw) February 5, 2020
A Japanese flag with the words “medicine lacking” is draped on the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess. Some guests are elderly and on medication. #coronavirus #DiamondPrincess pic.twitter.com/iQncSy50tX
— Paula Hancocks (@PHancocksCNN) February 7, 2020
People have started pleading with the U.S. government to bring home the Americans aboard the ship to complete their quarantine stateside. Others with loved ones on the Diamond Princess are taking to social media to communicate requests for things like medicine and chairs.
https://twitter.com/PatriciaPattis6/status/1225595111314202624?s=20
@ACSTokyo @CNN @FoxNews @NPR @PrincessCruises we have family on the #DiamondPrincess. 61 people are now infected- we need to get our US citizens off the #DiamondPrincess before it is too late !!! #bringamericanshome
— Joy (@Angie_Segreto) February 7, 2020
Now, there was an announcement on the onboard broadcast! prescription medicine is available at medical office. fill out the order form and staff will hand out to each rooms tomorrow.
— cocorobyn (@coco12013yn) February 5, 2020
order daily goods, toothbrush etc, by phone call.
thank you, #DiamondPrincess#coronavirus
https://twitter.com/yy_wesley/status/1225205355954573312?s=20
In a now-deleted tweet, passenger Kim Phillips said a private Facebook group had been set up for passengers and asked those with loved ones aboard to contact her.
There have been no deaths related to the infection reported on the ship.
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