niman Posted March 5, 2020 Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) Grand Princess cruise ship had at least 2 COVID positive passengers during trip between San Francisco and Mexico,which ended Feb 21. New cruise to Hawaii and back to San Francisco now has symptomatic passengers and crew and will remain off shore as CDC investigates. Edited March 5, 2020 by niman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted March 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 (edited) Grand Princess: 2,500 on board, some sick, exposed to coronavirus, test kits being air lifted to ship Erin Allday March 4, 2020 Updated: March 4, 2020 6:33 p.m. Comments The Grand Princess passes Alcatraz as it arrives from Hawaii in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, February 11, 2020. Photo: Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle A San Francisco-based cruise ship carrying more than 3,000 people is being held off the California coast as officials begin testing passengers for coronavirus after learning that two former passengers of the ship tested positive for COVID-19. The two former passengers were on the ship between Feb. 11 and Feb. 21 for a cruise to Mexico. When the ship returned to the Port of San Francisco, they — along with nearly all of the 2,500 passengers — disembarked and headed home. The two former passengers were later diagnosed with COVID-19. One, a Placer County resident, died Wednesday. By the time officials realized both patients were former passengers of the Grand Princess — and may have acquired the virus while on board, the ship was already out to sea — for a 15-day trip to Hawaii. That cruise was scheduled to end in San Francisco on Saturday but officials cut it short and ordered the ship held off the California coast as they assess the situation. On Wednesday, officials said 62 passengers currently on the ship were also passengers during the February trip to Mexico. Those passengers could have been exposed to the virus and could have exposed the new passengers. Officials said 20 people on board now have flu-like symptoms. Newsom said Wednesday that public health officials plan to airlift at least 200 test kits to the cruise ship. The 62 passengers from the Mexico trip and the 20 people who currently have symptoms will be tested for the virus first, he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the California Department of Public Health, and the U.S. Coast Guard are working now to determine when and where the ship will be allowed to dock. The ship is currently about a day out to sea, Newsom said. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Grand-Princess-2-500-on-board-some-sick-15106141.php Edited March 5, 2020 by niman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niman Posted March 5, 2020 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2020 Grand Princess Health Advisory Updated March 4, 2020 Last night / early this morning, our chief medical officer Dr. Grant Tarling issued this Health Advisory Letter to guests and crew currently sailing onboard Grand Princess. A similar notification has been emailed to guests who sailed on the previous voyage. For guests who sailed on the previous Grand Princess voyage (Feb 11-21), if you have experienced any symptoms of acute respiratory illness with fever, chills, or cough since your return home, please immediately contact your medical provider. You can also view the COVID-19 information card (PDF) provided by the CDC. Guests Health Advisory – CoronavirusMarch 4, 2020 Dear Princess Guest: I wish to advise you that today we have been notified by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that they are investigating a small cluster of COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases in Northern California connected to our previous Grand Princess voyage that sailed roundtrip San Francisco from February 11 to February 21. We are working closely with our CDC partners and are following their recommendations. For those guests who sailed with us on our previous voyage and may have been exposed, in an abundance of caution, the CDC requires you to remain in your stateroom until you have been contacted and cleared by our medical staff. A member of our medical team will be calling you between the hours of 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM this morning. You may order room service while you wait for the medical screening to be completed, and we apologize for any inconvenience. Please be assured that the health, safety, and well-being of all guests and crew are our absolute priority. The CDC is continuing to actively collect information and has set up a meeting with us this morning to determine what, if any, actions need to be taken during this cruise and on arrival in San Francisco. We have shared essential travel and health data with the CDC to facilitate their standard notification to the State and County health authorities to follow up with individuals who may have been exposed to people who became ill. As we anticipate that further review of the situation will be necessary on arrival in San Francisco, we will be cancelling the call to Ensenada on Thursday, March 5, in order to sail directly to San Francisco — exact date and time for arrival to be determined. We will keep you updated with information as we finalize plans. To assist you in contacting your family, we are providing free internet and phone service. We will advise you if the need arises to make changes to your onward travel plans post-cruise. COVID-19 causes mild illness in about 80% of cases, typically with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath, like the common cold or flu. About 20% of people develop more severe symptoms. The more severe symptoms typically occur in more susceptible individuals that have higher risk factors, such as older adults and those with chronic medical conditions, as it does with regular flu. The illness is mainly spread by droplets from close person-to-person contact. It is possible for the virus to spread by hand touch surfaces, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. Updated information on the illness can be found at the CDC website. As with all respiratory illnesses, particularly during cold and flu season, you can take steps to reduce your risk of illness: Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. Supplement hand washing by regularly using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Avoid close contact with people suffering from respiratory illness. Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze using a tissue or your bent elbow. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. We are closely recording and monitoring all persons who have reported to the medical center with cold and flu symptoms during the voyage. As a precaution, we are also conducting additional enhanced environmental disinfection onboard in addition to our regular stringent cleaning and sanitation protocols. If you have experienced any symptoms of acute respiratory illness with fever, chills, or cough at any time during this cruise, and you have not already consulted with the medical staff, please immediately contact the Medical Center to report your illness. There will not be a charge for this service. Thank you for taking the time to read this important information. To access complimentary internet, turn on your Wi-Fi and access the “ocean” network for connection. Yours in health, Grant Tarling, MD, MPH Chief Medical Officer AP – In-Transit - Guests v1.0 3/4/2020 Family Assistance If you are the immediate family of a guest onboard Grand Princess you may call the appropriate number for your region for assistance: US and Canada: +1 888-358-8055 International Number: +1 872-201-6779 https://www.princess.com/news/notices_and_advisories/notices/grand-princess-updates.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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