Diamond Princess passenger "tested positive for Wuhan coronavirus"

[Host CJSKIDS]

3 hours ago, fragilek said:

Looks like meals have may be changed to outsource delivery

lunch - tues

dinner tues

 

Or perhaps Princess is also simply going to disposable containers as well as adding items like the noodles that the people can enjoy at their leisure because only require hot water and the cabins have a kettle for that!

 

I've seen other pictures of a recent meal on someone's Facebook page  and it was a mixture of those containers and Princess plates all together.  The crew must be absolutely exhausted and using something disposable at this point is a godsend for them I'm sure. I know I'd be thrilled to have to wash less dishes!

Edited February 11, 2020 by Host CJSKIDS

[MEcruzr]

34 minutes ago, kathy49 said:

Well 6:42 am in Japan....I hope David comes on with some sort of update...he usually does in the morning. Clearly very little communication is coming from the ship which is concerning. Hopefully people will post if they hear any updates.

He said in his last video that they would check in at 9AM their time from now on. So a couple more hours.

[Colo Cruiser]

28 minutes ago, EDVM96 said:

 

Did you realize that the Diamond bridge cam has been turned to the left by someone?
It was always straight forward, now it looks to the port side of the ship.

I bet it's because visitors shall not see all the ambulances parked at the pier...

 

So?  Thats a much better view.

[dog]

Search quarantinedondiamondprincess. Twitter update day 7 on-board Diamond. She said internet down, lots of food drink delivery, first time on port side for walk with photo

 

 

[Kenswing]

From Princess..

Updated February 11, 2020

General Questions:

1. What is  novel  coronavirus? 

   A:  According to the  World Health Organization,  coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses found in both animals and humans. Some infect people and are known to cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe  respiratory conditions.  

   A  “novel”  coronavirus (nCoV)  is a new strain that has not been previously identified in humans. The  current  novel coronavirus, now called 2019-nCoV, had not  been  previously detected before  first  reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. 

    For more information, please visit The World Health Organization for more information about coronavirus.
    
2. How does  coronavirus  spread? 

   A:  According to the World Health Organization,  coronavirus  can be transmitted from person to person, usually after close contact with an infected patient, for example, in a household,  workplace  or health care center.  For more information, please visit The World Health Organization for more information about coronavirus.

3.  What are the symptoms of  coronavirus? 

   A:  According to the  World Health Organization,  common signs include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. For more information, please visit The World Health Organization for more information about coronavirus.

4.  What are the best ways to prevent coronavirus infection? 

   A:   According to the World Health Organization, the simplest and most effective way to prevent illness is to take extra care to practice healthy habits, such as frequent hand washing,  covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing,  and  thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. The WHO also recommends avoiding  close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness,  such as coughing and sneezing. 

   For more information, please visit The World Health Organization for more information about coronavirus.

 

Diamond Princess - Response and Actions

1. What happens if there is another new case on board?

   A: Any new guests or crew members that have a positive preliminary test result will be disembarked from the ship and transferred to a shoreside medical facility under the care of the Japanese Ministry of Health.

2. Are the crew members under quarantine?

   A: Crew members who have been cleared after an initial health screening by the Japanese Ministry of Health are fulfilling their duties as required. Additional crew testing by health officials is ongoing. When not working, crew members are requested to be in their staterooms.

3. What are the protocols for guest-facing crew?

   A: We are continuing to work with our public health colleagues and have put together a series of protocols around food delivery, collection and cleaning throughout the ship.

4. Are the guests quarantined on the ship or in their staterooms?

   A: Guests are quarantined to their staterooms. Food and beverages are being distributed three times a day to guest rooms via a daily menu. In addition, we are providing many in-room activities and entertainment options. The current guidance from the Japanese Ministry of Health is that the ship will be alongside for 14 days (until February 19).

5. Will guests remain in their rooms for the full length of the quarantine (14 days) or will they be allowed to freely move about the ship at a certain point?

   A: The Japanese Ministry of Health has instructed that guests are to remain in their staterooms for the duration of the quarantine. However, health authorities are allowing guests to have daily outdoors fresh air breaks on open decks.

6. How are you taking care of the crew?

   A: The health and safety of our crew is as important to us as that of our guests. In order to assist our crew during this time, we have activated a wide variety of services including:

   Dedicated channels for the Diamond crew to communicate directly with shoreside leaders 24 hours per day.

   Direct phone and video chat with counselors as well as spiritual and faith-based resources available in seven languages 24 hours per day to provide comfort and support.

7. Are you providing masks to guests and crew members?

   A: Yes, to protect their health and well-being the crew is using N95 face masks that have been provisioned to the ship in Yokohama. Additionally, crew have been provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

8. Can the coronavirus be spread through the ship’s ventilation system?

   A: The HVAC (heating ventilation air-conditioning) filtration system on our ships is comparable to those used by land-based hotels, resorts and casinos.

   According to a letter recently sent to cruise ship passengers and crew members onboard cruise ships by Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the U.S. CDC, there is no current evidence to suggest that the virus spreads through air-handling systems. Staying in your room and limiting contact with other people are the best ways to minimize exposure.

9. Are there any special precautions related to food handling and preparation?

   A: Our ships always seek to comply with the highest public health standards. We have worked with our public health team to put in place additional procedures to account for the change in onboard operations.

10. Have you done special training for crew members to help sanitize the ship?

    A: Our crew is highly trained in safety and public health standards. In addition, we are implementing processes developed in coordination with public health officials to support the elevated requirements of this situation.

11. Have you increased hygiene and sanitation protocols since the screening has been completed and guests have tested positive?

    A: Yes. While our routine sanitation protocols are robust and more stringent than land-based hotels and resorts, in an abundance of caution, we have increased our sanitation protocols on board. We’ve also installed an additional 200 hand sanitizer stations on the ship.

12. How will you sanitize the ship once the quarantine is lifted and the  guests  have disembarked? 

    A:  Once the quarantine is lifted, the ship will be taken to a special service dock, where it will receive a rigorous Level 3 cleaning and disinfection, like hospital operating rooms, to fully sanitize all stateroom and public venues.

13. Are you doing anything to make the onboard experience for the guests more pleasant?

    A: Yes, our guest services and entertainment teams, support by our shoreside colleagues, have activated eight new live TV channels. Within 24 hours an additional 80 title (movies, TV series, concerts) were added to the stateroom entertainment system in a variety of languages. Additionally, the team continues to deliver games, trivia and puzzles to guests to keep them occupied while in their staterooms.

14. What kind of compensation will be offered to the guests on Diamond Princess?

    Considering these extraordinary circumstances, all guests will receive a full refund of cruise expenses. This includes:

    • All guest expenses from cruise fare, to roundtrip Princess EZair, pre- or post-cruise plus hotels, transfers, pre-paid shore excursions, gratuities and other items, and taxes, fees and port expenses will be refunded to the original form of payment.
    • For guests who purchased air, transfers, or pre- or post-cruise hotels independently, Princess will also refund reasonable independent expenses.
    • All reasonable onboard folio charges will be covered during the quarantine period. Though guests may receive receipts for charges and gratuities for tracking and inventory purposes, these will not be charged to guests.
    • Each guest will receive a 100% Future Cruise Credit equal to the cruise fare paid for this voyage. The credit may be applied to any future Princess cruise booked by February 28, 2021, or any existing booking not yet paid in full and is non-refundable and non-transferable. It is our sincere hope that the refund and credit will help ease at least some of the stress that guests have experienced.

 

Princess Cruises - Global Fleet

1. What precautions are your ships taking to prevent coronavirus on board?
   
   A:   Our ships and medical staff are  well  equipped to prevent and contain the spread of contagious  illnesses, including coronavirus.  We are taking extra precautions and  are being  guided  in consultation with  international and local  health  authorities.  
    
   Among the precautions are: 
   • Enhanced screening  of guests and crew embarking our ships 
   • Isolating and treating any  guest  or  crew  member s howing  symptoms  of illness
   • Rigorous cleaning and  sanitization  of our ships  
   Our ships are  cleaned  thoroughly and regularly  with a disinfectant proven to be highly effective against contagious  illnesses.  While our routine sanitation protocols are  robust  and more stringent than  those of land-based  hotels and resorts,  in an abundance of caution, we have increased our sanitation protocols. 

   We will also provide information to our  guests  and crew about how to minimize any risk of contracting illness by  practicing  good hygiene  habits,  such as frequent hand washing.

2. How are you screening  guests  at embarkation?
    
   A:   For many years, cruise lines have screened guests  and crew  about their health before  they  board  a ship, including  questions about  recent or current illnesses and symptoms. 

   Additionally, any  individual  who has traveled from or through mainland China, Macau or Hong Kong within 14 days of the start of this cruise, will not be permitted to board the ship. Neither will any guest who has been in contact with a suspected or confirmed  case of coronavirus or a person under monitoring for coronavirus within  14 days of the start of the cruise. 

3. What  will  happen if an embarking cruise  guest  or crew member  shows symptoms of possible  coronavirus?  Will you deny them boarding?

   A:   A  guest  exhibiting signs of any illness prior to boarding a ship is checked by health and medical staff who determine if the  guest  will be allowed to board or be referred to shoreside medical care  for further medical screening  and potential treatment.  

   For many years, cruise lines have screened embarking guests  and crew members about their health before boarding a ship, including recent or current illnesses and symptoms. Guests  exhibiting signs of illness  will  not  be  allowed to board the ship. 

   Additionally, any  individual  who has traveled from or through mainland China, Macau or Hong Kong within 14 days of the start of this cruise, will not be permitted to board the ship. Neither will any guest who has been in contact with a suspected or confirmed  case of coronavirus or a person under monitoring for coronavirus within  14 days of the start of the cruise.

4. What  happens if a  guest  aboard a ship gets  sick? 

   A:  As  we have always done, we ask  guests  and crew to report to the medical center immediately if they exhibit any symptoms of illness.

5. Can the coronavirus be spread through the ship’s ventilation system?

   A: The HVAC (heating ventilation and air-conditioning) filtration system on our ships is comparable to those used by land-based hotels, resorts and casinos.

   In a letter recently sent to cruise ship passengers by Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director at the U.S. CDC, there is no current evidence to suggest that the virus spreads between rooms through the air-handling system. Staying in your room and limiting contact with other people are the best ways to minimize exposure.

6. Have you canceled any future Diamond Princess voyages? 

   A: The following voyages have been canceled: 

   M005  12-Feb-20 
   M005B  14-Feb-20 
   M006  20-Feb-20 
   M006D  20-Feb-20 
   M006B  22-Feb-20 
   M006C  25-Feb-20 
   M007  28-Feb-20 
   M007B  1-Mar-20 
   M007C  4-Mar-20 
   M008  7-Mar-20 
   M008B  9-Mar-20 
   M008C  12-Mar-20 

7. Who  should  government officials  or non-government organizations contact at Princess?

   A: Governmental officials and non-government organizations should direct their questions and requests to Ralph Samuels, Vice President,  Government & Community Relations,  (Tel: +1 661-284-8027,  rsamuels@hagroup.com)  and Sandy Olsen, Vice  President,  Corporate Affairs  (Tel: +61 (0)2 8326 4113  , Sandy.Olsen@carnivalaustralia.com). 

8. Where can I go to get updates from Princess Cruises?

   A: Updates are available at Princess Cruises' Notices & Advisories

[Fido Chuckwagon]

6 hours ago, perditax said:

Actual non-bickering news:

 

From another thread: apparently there are moves to remove elderly persons from the ship. It's not clear where they'll go.

 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/11/national/science-health/japan-elderly-leave-quarantined-diamond-princess-cruise-ship/

 

"The government is planning to allow elderly passengers as well as those with chronic illnesses to leave the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship soon, possibly on Tuesday, a source familiar with the matter said."

That seems like a tacit admission that the experts think it might still be spreading actively on the ship.

[kathy49]

3 minutes ago, Fido Chuckwagon said:

That seems like a tacit admission that the experts think it might still be spreading actively on the ship.

 

3 minutes ago, Fido Chuckwagon said:

That seems like a tacit admission that the experts think it might still be spreading actively on the ship.

Soon given that it is Wed. over there did this take place yesterday or are they talking next Tues. which is then not "soon" at all.

[perditax]

47 minutes ago, Kenswing said:

How are you taking care of the crew?

A: The health and safety of our crew is as important to us as that of our guests. In order to assist our crew during this time, we have activated a wide variety of services including:

Dedicated channels for the Diamond crew to communicate directly with shoreside leaders 24 hours per day.

Direct phone and video chat with counselors as well as spiritual and faith-based resources available in seven languages 24 hours per day to provide comfort and support.

Yikes.

 

Q: How are you taking care of the crew?

 

A: “Thoughts and prayers.”

 

If you’ve seen my posts you know I tend to err on the side of *not* engaging in FUD or hand-wringing, but their answer about how they’re taking care of the crew made my stomach drop. I know they’re used to working hard, but they’ve effectively been forced into the role of fulltime emergency biohazard workers. They need something more concrete than a long-distance spiritual advisor.

Edited February 11, 2020 by perditax

[Outerdog]

22 minutes ago, perditax said:

Yikes.

 

Q: How are you taking care of the crew?

 

A: “Thoughts and prayers.”

 

If you’ve seen my posts you know I tend to err on the side of *not* engaging in FUD or hand-wringing, but their answer about how they’re taking care of the crew made my stomach drop. I know they’re used to working hard, but they’ve effectively been forced into the role of fulltime emergency biohazard workers. They need something more concrete than a long-distance spiritual advisor.

 

All of these pertain to the well-being of the crew:

 

A: Yes, to protect their health and well-being the crew is using N95 face masks that have been provisioned to the ship in Yokohama. Additionally, crew have been provided Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

 

A: Crew members who have been cleared after an initial health screening by the Japanese Ministry of Health are fulfilling their duties as required. Additional crew testing by health officials is ongoing. When not working, crew members are requested to be in their staterooms.

 

A: Our crew is highly trained in safety and public health standards. In addition, we are implementing processes developed in coordination with public health officials to support the elevated requirements of this situation.

 

A:  Once the quarantine is lifted, the ship will be taken to a special service dock, where it will receive a rigorous Level 3 cleaning and disinfection, like hospital operating rooms, to fully sanitize all stateroom and public venues.

 

 

 

 

[Mibele]

On 2/10/2020 at 3:29 PM, Outerdog said:

 

The dividers are trivial to open on most ships -- particularly those of that area. You can open them with a bottle opener, nail clippers, or similar. Hell, I've read reports of them being opened with wooden stir sticks.

 

Crew would have to enter the cabins to close them -- you're right, it was probably decided it simply wasn't worth the risk to do so.

 

The person who had their neighbor visiting said in her live that they were in connecting cabins.  So they can pop in and out through the doors in the actual cabin wall.  They are their travel mates, so I'm assuming that is not problem.  

[Waffopossum]

39 more cases, apparently.

[kathy49]

3 minutes ago, Mibele said:

The person who had their neighbor visiting said in her live that they were in connecting cabins.  So they can pop in and out through the doors in the actual cabin wall.  They are their travel mates, so I'm assuming that is not problem.  

respectfully it is a problem...they have no way of knowing if one of the four of them have it...by doing that they now are in touch with 2 others instead of just  1 and if any of them tests for the virus all are more at risk and probably have to do extended quarantine. I saw that video and noted she has not come on  lately...probably got some feedback on that. There were tons of people up over the balcony etc. and not a mask in sight.

[kathy49]

3 minutes ago, Waffopossum said:

39 more cases, apparently.

where is that coming from please?

[sharktums]

^Japanese NHK News station is reporting the 39 new cases.

[Waffopossum]

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1227379549127761920?s=20

[kathy49]

Just now, sharktums said:

^Japanese NHK News station is reporting the 39 new cases.

thank you...must be ambulances lined up again....I think it is clear something has gone terribly wrong here.

[SunNFunCruzer]

1 hour ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

 

Or perhaps Princess is also simply going to disposable containers as well as adding items like the noodles that the people can enjoy at their leisure because only require hot water and the cabins have a kettle for that!

 

I've seen other pictures of a recent meal on someone's Facebook page  and it was a mixture of those containers and Princess plates all together.  The crew must be absolutely exhausted and using something disposable at this point is a godsend for them I'm sure. I know I'd be thrilled to have to wash less dishes!

 

Who knows?  If the virus is aerosol and airborne maybe it could escape with the steam and has infected some of the crew working with the industrial dishwashers?  [<-- Speculation]  Having a breakdown of the number of crew and passengers ill as well as where the passengers lived and where the crew worked & lived could provide a lot of useful information.

 

There are a lot of self-reported scientists reading these boards. This cruise is actually a great research platform and I think they will learn a lot about the virus studying what's gone on during this quarantine period. Whether that's ever released to the public, remains to be seen, but no researcher would be granted Human Subjects permission had they created this environment.  More info re: US rules & regulation on Human Subjects can be found here: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/human-subjects

Edited February 12, 2020 by SunNFunCruzer

[kathy49]

No scientist here but if that number is correct again 39 more something is going on right on the ship now....

[Kmkub]

2 minutes ago, kathy49 said:

thank you...must be ambulances lined up again....I think it is clear something has gone terribly wrong here.

I don't think that's clear at all. The point of the quarantine is to make sure anyone infected gets identified before they go spreading it around in Japan, at the airport, in the plane, etc.

 

Since not everyone will start showing symptoms at the exact same moment, they are waiting 14 days to ensure they get everyone. As more show up, it could merely be proof that a lot more were infected from the initial exposure.

 

 

[Waffopossum]

Plus a quarantine officer who was inspecting the ship also was infected.  I wonder if it was a PPE failure or something. 

 

https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1227382098539032577?s=20

[Farts]

9 minutes ago, SunNFunCruzer said:

 

Who knows?  If the virus is aerosol and airborne maybe it could escape with the steam and has infected some of the crew working with the industrial dishwashers?  [<-- Speculation]  Having a breakdown of the number of crew and passengers ill as well as where the passengers lived and where the crew worked & lived could provide a lot of useful information.

 

There are a lot of self-reported scientists reading these boards. This cruise is actually a great research platform and I think they will learn a lot about the virus studying what's gone on during this quarantine period. Whether that's ever released to the public, remains to be seen, but no researcher would be granted Human Subjects permission had they created this environment.  More info re: US rules & regulation on Human Subjects can be found here: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/human-subjects

CDC says that it is transmitted via droplets, which is different than airborne. 

 

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6905e1.htm?s_cid=mm6905e1_w

 

I wish the best for all those on the ship. I would be pretty nervous

Edited February 12, 2020 by Farts

[SunNFunCruzer]

5 minutes ago, Kmkub said:

I don't think that's clear at all. The point of the quarantine is to make sure anyone infected gets identified before they go spreading it around in Japan, at the airport, in the plane, etc.

 

Since not everyone will start showing symptoms at the exact same moment, they are waiting 14 days to ensure they get everyone. As more show up, it could merely be proof that a lot more were infected from the initial exposure.

 

 

 

I agree. But I think you'd need 28-30 days or 48-49 if the 24 day incubation is correct.

 

Knowing who they are and where the infected people are living now would provide so much information. Are they in all types of cabins, on all levels of the ship? Are they of all ages?  Did they have a common dining table?, common excursion?, share the same closest elevator?, all go to the spa?  Someone for sure is collecting and analyzing all of that data.  I would love to see an anonymized data dump somewhere when this is all over.

Edited February 12, 2020 by SunNFunCruzer

[bluesea321]

7 minutes ago, Kmkub said:

I don't think that's clear at all. The point of the quarantine is to make sure anyone infected gets identified before they go spreading it around in Japan, at the airport, in the plane, etc.

 

Since not everyone will start showing symptoms at the exact same moment, they are waiting 14 days to ensure they get everyone. As more show up, it could merely be proof that a lot more were infected from the initial exposure.

 

Passenger 0, the initially infected passenger, left the ship in Hong Kong on Jan 25. It has been 17 days, well past the so called 14 day incubation period. If 14 days is accurate (reports now say up to 24 days) then the new infections were new passenger to passenger infections on the ship and not from the original pax.

Edited February 12, 2020 by bluesea321

[kathy49]

David was on again as promised this morning however he is off again internet issues again. I question that he knows about the 39 as he is telling jokes.

[ed01106]

12 minutes ago, kathy49 said:

respectfully it is a problem...they have no way of knowing if one of the four of them have it...by doing that they now are in touch with 2 others instead of just  1 and if any of them tests for the virus all are more at risk and probably have to do extended quarantine. I saw that video and noted she has not come on  lately...probably got some feedback on that. There were tons of people up over the balcony etc. and not a mask in sight.

Being Princess’s protocols are limited only to steps to prevent passenger to passenger transmission while virtually ignoring the risk of crew to passenger, passenger to crew and crew to crew, four family members sticking together rather than sticking to 2s is the least of the problems.