A cruise shop holiday is not the ideal environment for staying away from corona virus infection. Passengers are seldom more than six feet away from dozens of strangers, unless they are in their staterooms. They may help themselves to food on display at open buffets. Moreover, many are over 60 and celebrating their retirement. This is a ‘perfect storm’ for cross infection. We must take these cruise ship lessons from corona virus to heart.
What Cruise Ship Lessons from Corona Virus Taught Us
A thousand passengers may disembark after a cruise ship enters port and docks. Many will re-join the cruise after exploring local attractions. There, they may mingle with passengers from other ships in dense crowds. The possibilities for cross infections of corona virus are therefore deeply concerning.
Take the tragic case of the Diamond Princess quarantined in Yokohama, for example. She accommodates up to 2,670 passengers, plus 1,100 crew members to make their holiday dreams come true. On February 4, 2020 Diamond Princess was cruising off Japan when the ship’s doctor confirmed 10 passengers with corona virus. On February 6 they discovered another 10, followed by 41 new cases the next day.
What Will Happen, How Long Will Quarantine Last at Yokohama
Identified cases are being moved to isolation wards in several hospitals. However, healthy passengers have to remain in their staterooms for now, except those in inside accommodation without a window. They may visit an open deck under close supervision. However, the kitchen is still making great food stewards deliver to the passengers. But there are no laundry facilities. They keep recycling dirty clothes. Tempers are fraying
A 80-year-old man from Hong Kong who developed corona virus traveled on Diamond Princess from January 20, 2020 to January 25. Doctors believe he may have sparked the outbreak. We don’t know whether the strict measures on board will prevent a second round of infections. One thing’s for sure: these cruise ship lessons from corona virus on Diamond Princess will reverberate through the travel industry for a long time.
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Preview Image: Diamond Princess Auditorium
