Hong Kong - Cruiseship quarantined with 3,600 passengers

[kiwibird]

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/e...docked-in-japan-test-positive-for-coronavirus
snip....
A second cruise ship – the World Dream – was also quarantined off Hong Kong on Wednesday, with 3,600 passengers and crew members barred from leaving.

This came after three mainland Chinese travellers, who had been on board the ship from Jan 19 to 24, tested positive for the coronavirus. About 30 crew members have reported symptoms of cough and fever, and the ship was denied entry into Taiwan’s Kaoshiung port on Tuesday.

The cases exemplify fears of how the confined spaces of a cruise ship – where passengers intermingle in common areas – could well catalyse the spread of a virus.
...snip

 

[kiwibird]

https://www.ship-technology.com/news/world-dream-quarantined-hong-kong/
The passengers on board are being tested for the virus and are not permitted to leave the ship until the health checks are completed. The rooms of the passengers who were infected have also been sealed off.

Hong Kong Department of Health’s (DH) Centre for Health Protection (CHP) is testing 1,800 passengers and 1,800 crew. The department is carrying out a health declaration and temperature checking.

A total of 33 crew members have upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, three of which have a fever and been sent to the hospital.
....snip

 

[kiwibird]

https://twitter.com/mollymhunter/status/1225385370457497600
Update from Dream Cruises (the cruise ship in HK): “The 33 crew members who reported symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections were all known to test negative for the novel #coronavirus. In addition, one crew member who developed fever symptoms was waiting for test results.”

 

[Commonground]

Press Release:

CHP conducts tests on novel coronavirus for crew members of World Dream cruise
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (February 8) said that as some Mainland travellers who took the World Dream cruise were earlier confirmed to have infected with the novel coronavirus, tests on novel coronavirus will be conducted on all crew members of the cruise ship to safeguard passengers on board. The tests would be completed in about four days.

A spokesman for the CHP stressed, "The health of passengers and the general public of Hong Kong is our utmost priority in making the quarantine arrangement and hence the prudent measures adopted. We fully understand the inconvenience caused by the arrangements and hope to have the understanding and co-operation of those affected in fighting against the spread of the infection together."

Personnel of the Port Health Division have earlier taken specimens from symptomatic crew members and passengers for test on novel coronavirus, with all the results being negative. However, as some crew members might have direct contact with the passengers confirmed with novel coronavirus infection (i.e. passengers who disembarked from the cruise at Nansha on January 24), upon relevant experts' advice, we have decided to conduct tests on novel coronavirus for 1 800 odd crew members on board. The aim is to exclude that they are infected and thus will not cause health threats to passengers.

Personnel of the Port Health Division have been collecting specimens from crew members for the testing since today. Owing to the vast number of crew members, it is expected that the test of crew members would be completed in about four days (i.e. February 11). Before the results are available, all people will be required to remain on the cruise ship.

Ends/Saturday, February 8, 2020
Issued at HKT 22:10

...https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202002/08/P2020020800708.htm