Another cruise liner with virus victims docks in Florida
Another cruise liner with coronavirus victims up to speed, including two fatalities, docked in Florida on Saturday.
Princess Cruises spokeswoman Negin Kamali said within an email that the Coral Princess ship was docking in Miami. The ship with 1,020 passengers and 878 crew members have been in limbo for days awaiting permission to dock.
By Thursday, Kamali said seven passengers and five crew members had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Anyone looking for hospitalization would disembark first, the cruise line said, although it wasn't immediately clear when that could happen. Those people who are fit to fly will commence leaving on Sunday, while others who've symptoms of respiratory illness will remain up to speed until cleared by ship doctors.
A day earlier, the cruise ships Zaandam and Rotterdam were permitted to dock at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, with 14 critically ill persons taken immediately to hospitals. The rest of the passengers were slowly being allowed to board flights for home.
The Coral Princess had been on a South American cruise that was because of end March 19 in Buenos Aires. Since that time, the ship has encountered obstacles to docking as a result of various port closures and cancellation of airline flights, the cruise line said.
Passengers have self-isolated within their staterooms and meals have been delivered by room service. Crew members also have remained within their quarters when they aren't working.
The Coast Guard said in a news release Saturday it's been associated with processing about 120 vessels carrying some 250,000 passengers in the last three weeks as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Coast Guard statement said as of Saturday there are 114 cruise lines, carrying 93,000 crew members, either in or near U.S. ports and waters. That includes 73 cruise lines, with 52,000 crew members, moored or anchored in U.S. ports and anchorages. Another 41 cruise ships, with 41,000 crew members, are underway and near the U.S.
The cruise line industry announced a voluntarily suspension of most ship businesses from U.S. ports on March 13. The very next day, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a "no sail" order to all or any cruise ships that had not suspended operations.
"We commend the decision by the cruise industry to cease operations. However, pausing a worldwide tourist industry will not happen instantaneously or easily," said Vice Admiral Dan Abel, Coast Guard Deputy Commandant for Operations. "The federal, state, local and industry cooperation to achieve this feat truly represents the whole-of-nation approach directed by the president and is vital to fighting the spread of this virus and working to minimize the increased loss of life."
Princess Cruises is a make of Miami-based Carnival Corp., the world's major cruise company.
