Chance (9 Feb 2020)
"Cruise Ships And The Coronavirus"


 
Hello John and Doves,

Finally this cornavirus is making the news!

The Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Anthem Of The Seas, docked in Bayonee, New Jersey, Friday morning, 2/7/2020.  It had returned from a cruise to the Caribbean. 

The governor of New Jersey reported that the CDC evaluated 27 people - clearing 23 and 4 were taken to the hospital for further testing. (One tested positive for Influenza A per FOX news report.) The mayor of Bayonee wrote on twitter that "Approx 2 dozen were screened this morning with 4 sent to area hosp for further screening.  I was advised CDC considers this "Below Low Risk" situation.  All other passengers released w/no action needed."  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-cruise-ship-passengers-screened-bayonne-new-jersey-today-2020-02-07/
Cruise ship passengers screened for coronavirus in New Jersey; 4 sent to hospital - CBS News

These 27 passengers had recently traveled to China.  These cruises are usually a week long to the Caribbean.  So to travel back from China, then get on a cruise ship to the Bahamas, etc...that should have about finished the '14 day incubation period for most of these 27 people. In fact, the Royal Caribbean spokeperson said all of these Chinese nationals had been in China 13 days ago...14 days is the furthest 'reported length' of the incubation period.

"Like airlines, we are participating in elevated levels of guest screening to check the spread of coronavirus," a Royal Caribbean spokesperson said in a statement.  "We are closely monitoring developments regarding coronavirus and have rigorous medical protocols in place onboard our ships."  https://offers.usatoday.com/specialoffer?gps-source=CPNBAR&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=2019decbau&utm_content=digital&utm_source=adfree&utm_term=ltfst
USA TODAY | Subscription Options

The CDC isn't giving the media any more information about these 4 passengers.  Hopefully they will test negative.

This ship was to depart for the Bahamas today, 2/7...but this has been delayed until tomorrow. They are awaiting test results before setting sail again.

However, Japan is treating these cruise ships differently:

There is a Princess Cruises ship, the Diamond Princess, off the coast of Yokohama, Japan - so far, 61 out of some 100 tested are confirmed positive. There are 3,700 passengers and crew on board this ship under quarantine until February 19. There are 11 Americans on board.  28 Japanese nationals, 11 Americans, 7 Australian, 7 Canadian, 3 from Hong Kong, one from Argentina, one from the Philippines, one from Taiwan, one from the UK and one from New Zealand tested positive.  https://abcnews.go.com/International/11-americans-aboard-cruise-ship-japan-infected-coronavirus/story?id=68819290
11 Americans aboard cruise ship in Japan among those infected with new coronavirus - ABC News

Another ship, Holland America's Westerdam isn't being allowed to dock in Japan.  Suspected virus patients are on board.  The Seattle-based spokeperson for this cruise ship 'denied anyone had the virus'.  This ship is near Ishigaki (an Okinawa outer island) and was seeking another port.  "Everyone is starting to reject the ship and we are getting desperate," she said. "We hope we can go somewhere so that passengers can land." There are more than 2,000 passengers on this ship.  This ship has been denied entry to ports in Japan, the Philippines and Guam.  The cruise ship company is reporting that this ship is not in quarantine.

"At least four other cruise ships, two foreign and two Japanese-operated, are headed to Japan by the end of the month, Transport Minister Kazuyoshi Akba (of Japan) said, urging port authorities around the country to turn them away."  https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-nw-coronavirus-cruise-ship-doctor-20200207-4m2rr4bglndm7m26d4mqajdobq-story.html  February 7, 2020
Latest coronavirus developments: Cruise ship becomes floating quarantine hospital, whistleblower doctor dies at age 34 - Chicago Tribune

The World Dream cruise ship of Dream Cruises is also under quarantine near Hong Kong.  8 passengers have mild respiratory symptoms and one had a fever.  All are being tested.  Three people from a previous cruise tested positive.

The Costa Meralda, a cruise ship in Europe, had a passenger become ill (a Chinese national) .  There were 7,000 passengers and crew on board.  They were not allowed to debark at the port of Civitavecchia, near Rome.  The passengers were eventually allowed to disembark when the ill passenger tested negative.  The mayor of the city denied debarkation until testing was completed.
Passengers Allowed Off Ship at Italian Port After Virus Scare | Newsmax.com
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/coronavirus-italy-cruise-ship-costa-smeralda/2020/01/30/id/952065/

The Anthem of the Seas obviously reported illness on board and caught the attention of authorities and the CDC.  The passengers were allowed to disembark BEFORE testing was completed.  Hopefully, all will test negative.  No other cruises ships docking in the U.S. are currently under quarantine.

I have not seen any other cruise ships in the news...I expect there to be many more.

Finally, the news is starting to cover the coronavirus!  And finally, "The director of the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy, in a letter to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, requested that scientific experts 'rapidly' look into the origins of the virus..." 
White House asks scientists to investigate origins of coronavirus - ABC News

This cornavirus will continue to spread...with no peak in sight.  Watch how the different countries handle the spread of this - very telling.

Our prayers go out for all of those on these ships and those infected.  May God be with them.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Maranatha!

Chance