Ten additional people onboard Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the latest statement from the cruise line, including four Japanese guests, one guest from Taiwan, two Americans, two Canadians and one guest from New Zealand. Local health authorities disembarked the affected guests for transport to local hospitals immediately.
The Diamond Princess has been under quarantine in Yokohama, Japan, since February 4 after a guest from Hong Kong tested positive for the virus after disembarking from the ship. Ten people, including nine guests and one crew, were diagnosed with the virus in the initial round of testing. The ship is now under a quarantine with 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew onboard for at least two weeks, as required by Japan’s Ministry of Health. Guests will be provided with complimentary Internet and telephone for the duration.
Princess Cruises has set up a series of regional hotlines for the immediate family of guests onboard the ship:
- North America: 800-693-7222
- Australia: 1-300-026-240
- New Zealand: 0800-002141
- United Kingdom: 0-800-014-8339
- Japan: 0800-170-6282
- Immediate family assistance (anyone from any country, including guests onboard can call): 872-201-5236
On February 4 the Diamond Princess had arrived in Yokohama early from a 14-day round trip itinerary, which had departed on January 20. On that voyage, a guest from Hong Kong had embarked in Yokohama on January 20, sailed one segment of the itinerary and disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25. On February 1, he visited a local hospital in Hong Kong, where he tested positive for coronavirus. After that, the Diamond Princess was held in Yokohama so that Japanese health authorities could carry out tests on guests and crew onboard.
The ship’s February 12 cruise has been cancelled, and Princess has begun notifying affected guests. Holland America Line, Seabourn and Royal Caribbean have also announced additional cruise cancellations and changes due to the outbreak.
There are currently over 24,500 cases of the coronavirus diagnosed in 25 countries worldwide, according to the latest numbers from the World Health Organization. There have been 492 deaths from the disease thus far, all except one in China.
This article originally appeared on www.travelagentcentral.com.
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