Grand Princess Coronavirus Discussion (retitled after merger of several topics)

[voljeep]

not to be flippant .. well … will Princess refund on a pro-rata share a portion of the PBP or other drink packages since the passengers are confined to their rooms, or will Princess relax the rules about the PBP not to be used for room service ...

[kathy49]

16 minutes ago, voljeep said:

not to be flippant .. well … will Princess refund on a pro-rata share a portion of the PBP or other drink packages since the passengers are confined to their rooms, or will Princess relax the rules about the PBP not to be used for room service ...

if they are required to stay out at sea....this "calling room service" will quickly become meal drops just like DP.

[richsea]

I find it pretty amazing that so many people seem to know more about how to handle this unforeseen problem; & without even knowing all the facts! Armchair, know-it-all Monday morning quarterbacks.😳😳😳

[CanadianKate]

9 minutes ago, richsea said:

I find it pretty amazing that so many people seem to know more about how to handle this unforeseen problem; & without even knowing all the facts! Armchair, know-it-all Monday morning quarterbacks.😳😳😳

 

True. Still, official sources say they tested under 50 people on the ship. So it sounds like facts are not being searched for, since not everyone on the b2b were tested (not to mention crew.) 
 

Without facts, everyone can say what they like and not be shown the error of their ways. 

 

 

[arabrab]

6 minutes ago, richsea said:

I find it pretty amazing that so many people seem to know more about how to handle this unforeseen problem; & without even knowing all the facts! Armchair, know-it-all Monday morning quarterbacks.😳😳😳

 

Not to be ridiculous, but we won't know "all the facts" until this is all over. Probably not even then. Meanwhile, many of those who proclaimed that this was no big deal way back when now see it differently, cruise lines have had a hard time moving away from traditional habits (self-serve buffets are still operating on many dozens of cruise ships as we speak) and they are also waiting until ordered to close down profitable areas like casinos. As Dylan said, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."

[CruisinCrow]

12 hours ago, Pushka said:

But they've known this has been coming for many weeks. If we can get test kits in Australia to test everyone with a relevant history then it's crazy that the US hasn't done the same. And we do it for free!

 Yes, it is crazy.  That doesn't mean it's not true, unfortunately.

[Wheelhouse]

No specific ship mentioned here but there are three COVID-19 cases in Maryland of people returning from a cruise ending on Feb 20.

 

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/three-montgomery-county-residents-have-states-first-cases-of-coronavirus/

[junglejane]

Apparently they are awaiting test results on 45 people.  Something constrained them from testing more.  Logically, the 45 people they selected for testing would be those who were most likely to test positive, including the 10+ passengers and 10+ crew reporting symptoms (especially the B2B passengers among them).   The question is--what are they going to do if they get a bunch of positives?   If they get many positives, it means there are lots of infected people on the ship.  

[Sea Hag]

Just now, junglejane said:

The question is--what are they going to do if they get a bunch of positives?   

That's a very good question, but with only 45 tested, I think there's a better question. What will they do if they get all negatives?

[flyguyjake]

CDC is returning to the Grand Princess today to perform another 48 tests.

 

One staffer finally called him back and told him officials were returning Friday to administer 48 more tests. Princess Cruises said in a statement that additional tests might be required by health officials.

“I think people on the ship are thinking that if tests are negative, they’ll be off,” McClelland said. “But they haven’t tested all of us that were on the past cruise.”

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/cruise-ship-with-thousands-aboard-awaits-test-results-while-coronavirus-continues-spreading-around-the-country/2020/03/05/e32b8786-5f1a-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html

[LMADAMS91]

With a limited number of tests available, wouldn't it make sense to test those most likely to have the virus? IF those results come back with any positive results, then they know that everyone on board should be quarantined.  It would suck for those who somehow manage to not get the virus, but when you are working with limited supplies, you have to use those supplies wisely. 

 

[mkitchy]

16 minutes ago, fragilek said:

If you don't like or agree with some of what is said then now worries just ignore,  Unfortunately those that predicted the worst for the the Diamond and even pre that the disruption to cruising in the east in the end were pretty close to the mark.   

The exaggerated hysteria makes this thread interesting enough to follow.

[flyguyjake]

Looks like the passengers of the Grand won't be getting off the ship for another 24 hrs minimum since CDC won't release the ship until all required tests have been concluded.

[Roger88]

I doubt it that a single person could infect everyone on board. Especially if its been 12 days already. I heard of that cruiser in CA. It was detained as far as I am concerned but its still unclear whats going on there. The only information I get is from my grandma who lives in Los Angeles. She told there isnt much news on TV about it. Just some here and there. I dont believe that if it was something big they would just keep silence. Such info expands very quickly 

Edited March 6, 2020 by Roger88

[fragilek]

3 minutes ago, mkitchy said:

The exaggerated hysteria makes this thread interesting enough to follow.

 as I already said

Everything we do before a pandemic will seem alarmist. Everything we do after will seem inadequate.’

 

[flyguyjake]

4 minutes ago, mkitchy said:

The exaggerated hysteria makes this thread interesting enough to follow.

 

Perhaps you should read this and rethink your downplay strategy.

“This epidemic can be pushed back but only with a coordinated and comprehensive approach that engages the entire machinery of government,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said

“We’re calling on every country to act with speed, scale and clear-minded determination.”

“This epidemic is a threat for every country, rich and poor. And as we’ve said before, even the high-income countries should expect surprises,” he said. “We’re concerned that in some countries, the level of political commitment and the actions that demonstrate that commitment do not match the level of the threat we all face.”

 

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/05/who-calls-on-all-nations-to-pull-out-all-the-stops-to-fight-coronavirus.html

[cruisejess]

38 minutes ago, Wheelhouse said:

No specific ship mentioned here but there are three COVID-19 cases in Maryland of people returning from a cruise ending on Feb 20.

 

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/three-montgomery-county-residents-have-states-first-cases-of-coronavirus/

How do you know this is cruise ship related?

[arabrab]

18 minutes ago, junglejane said:

Apparently they are awaiting test results on 45 people.  Something constrained them from testing more.  Logically, the 45 people they selected for testing would be those who were most likely to test positive, including the 10+ passengers and 10+ crew reporting symptoms (especially the B2B passengers among them).   The question is--what are they going to do if they get a bunch of positives?   If they get many positives, it means there are lots of infected people on the ship.  

My guess (only a guess) is that the actual sampling (2/person) takes quite a bit more time compared to taking blood for a blood test. It is quite invasive. Passengers on DP described it as feeling like they were taking a sample from the back of the brain. Additionally, if the tester has to don and doff all the protective gear (coverall, booties, mask, eye protection) between taking samples from the next person, that adds quite a bit of time. (From an infection control standpoint, I don't believe they could just keep wearing the same stuff -- it would protect the tester but could transmit the virus to the next person being tested). Good habits with a disease like this might require that an observer monitor the donning and doffing process to identify any mis-steps in precautions.  Finally, I'm guessing that the samples needed to be taken off during daylight hours, but that is just a guess.

[Wheelhouse]

6 minutes ago, cruisejess said:

How do you know this is cruise ship related?

 

It says so here

 

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/gov-larry-hogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-maryland-after-3-positive-coronavirus-cases-confirmed

[cruisejess]

7 minutes ago, Wheelhouse said:

 

It says so here

 

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/gov-larry-hogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-maryland-after-3-positive-coronavirus-cases-confirmed

Thanks!  That is terrible.

[MoniMommy]

6 minutes ago, Wheelhouse said:

 

It says so here

 

https://www.fox5dc.com/news/gov-larry-hogan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-maryland-after-3-positive-coronavirus-cases-confirmed

I wonder if the CDC will test current guests on this ship as well. I dont know what ship. It says they departed on 2/20. So there could be a 2and ship out there in the same situation as the princess ship in CA.

[NorthwestCruiser]

"or so to produce enough waste heat to make water. "

 

What are you talking about?   Fresh water is made with reverse osmosis.   The only problem with making it in port (as in Japan) is that harbor water is pretty contaminated, oil in particular is hard on the RO membrane.     Ships can be supplied at sea and have been for a long time, after all we maintained a fleet with a very large navy off of islands near Japan for years.    Oil platforms don't make their own food, either.   The crane is on the supply ship.    They could certainly be supplied offshore if they had to, but it would be pointlessly difficult as doing it nearshore would be much easier.

[Ombud]

Sad news

 

On last nights news (in SF Bay Area) there was a story about a woman who couldn't get a Covid 19 test for her 70+ husband in San Mateo County showing symptoms. This morning, 7 officers are under quarantine for doing unsuccessful CPR on a 72 yr old man off the Grand 'in February.' 

 

Are we prepared?

Edited March 6, 2020 by Ombud

[Wheelhouse]

3 minutes ago, MoniMommy said:

I wonder if the CDC will test current guests on this ship as well. I dont know what ship. It says they departed on 2/20. So there could be a 2and ship out there in the same situation as the princess ship in CA.

 

The article actually says they returned on 2/20 so I was thinking that they might have been on the Grand.

[CanadianKate]

18 minutes ago, arabrab said:

My guess (only a guess) is that the actual sampling (2/person) takes quite a bit more time compared to taking blood for a blood test. It is quite invasive. Passengers on DP described it as feeling like they were taking a sample from the back of the brain. Additionally, if the tester has to don and doff all the protective gear (coverall, booties, mask, eye protection) between taking samples from the next person, that adds quite a bit of time. (From an infection control standpoint, I don't believe they could just keep wearing the same stuff -- it would protect the tester but could transmit the virus to the next person being tested). Good habits with a disease like this might require that an observer monitor the donning and doffing process to identify any mis-steps in precautions.  Finally, I'm guessing that the samples needed to be taken off during daylight hours, but that is just a guess.

 

All that sounds totally logical. Especially the daylight thing. 

But will even 100 out of the ~3500 achieve anything? There are no guidelines and people seem to take a stricter response to someone associated with one of the 'high profile' cases than with someone who tested positive without surrounding drama. 

The person I listened to on the radio today is just leaving her 14 day quarantine here after the Diamond Princess 14 day quarantine. She had to have lots of tests to get off the ship and be eligible to come back to Canada, then more when she arrived and then she was monitored (temp taking 2x per day) for every day, a final test in prep for being released from quarantine and even today she couldn't get on the bus to the airport until her temperature was checked. She has never tested positive in that time. In the meantime, others who tested positive as a result of travel were assessed by a hospital and those well enough were sent to quarantine at home.  They had mild cases and were home. She, who had nothing, has been in quarantine for 28 days.  

I'm worried that the people from the Grand will be treated with the same amount of overkill, whether or not they ever test positive. 
 

Edited March 6, 2020 by CanadianKate