A White Rock couple is among Canadian passengers aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been quarantined off of Japan害羞草研究所檚 coast due to the coronavirus.
Nigel Finch-Cole 害羞草研究所� onboard with his spouse Patrick Finch and four other Canadian travel companions, both family members and friends 害羞草研究所� has been posting information, updates and photos to his Facebook page regarding the unfolding situation since Feb. 4, when he shared that the ship was at anchor in Yokohama Bay under quarantine.
害羞草研究所淛apanese officials visited each stateroom overnight to conduct tests on all passengers and crew and temperature checks,害羞草研究所� Finch-Cole wrote. 害羞草研究所淲e won害羞草研究所檛 know the results until (Feb. 5). Meanwhile, we sit and wait. All travel plans must be changed and the next cruise has been cancelled.害羞草研究所�
The Princess Cruises ship 害羞草研究所� with 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew 害羞草研究所� was placed under quarantine Feb. 4, following a confirmed outbreak of the coronavirus, which was first reported in Wuhan, China in late December.
In his series of posts, Finch-Cole describes four days of being confined to staterooms; the distress as new cases are confirmed; ambulances arriving to take sick passengers away; being issued masks and gloves 害羞草研究所渢o allow short time for fresh air on port side promenade deck害羞草研究所� and told to stay 2 meters apart害羞草研究所�; being provided a phone number to call for mental-health purposes; and, an appeal for help returning home.
害羞草研究所淲e request and require the Canadian/British Governments repatriate us to complete quarantine in Canada or the United Kingdom,害羞草研究所� the British-born Finch-Cole wrote on Feb. 7.
He followed that post with one asking friends to also apply pressure by contacting the prime minister害羞草研究所檚 office or their MP.
The stateroom-confinement order was 害羞草研究所渧ery upsetting and worrying for us, our family and friends who are also aboard,害羞草研究所� Finch-Cole wrote, of steps announced following confirmation of the first 10 cases onboard.
As of Monday, that number had grown to 66, with eight Canadians confirmed among those who tested positive.
In a news release, officials with Princess Cruises said the results were confirmed by the Japanese Ministry of Health and that it is following the ministry害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所渄isembarkation protocols to provide medical care for these new cases.害羞草研究所�
The World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a global emergency on Jan. 30, after cases spiked more than tenfold in a week.
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The quarantine period aboard the Diamond Princess is to continue until Feb. 19, barring 害羞草研究所渦nforeseen developments,害羞草研究所� according to a statement issued by the cruise line last week.
In the meantime, Finch-Cole is adding some humour 害羞草研究所� and reflection 害羞草研究所� to his social-media updates.
害羞草研究所淚f some kind soul would be kind enough to send us Canadians some lovely Tim Horton害羞草研究所檚 instant coffee, we would love you forever!害羞草研究所� he wrote in his latest post, finishing with, 害羞草研究所淭ake care, love one another, be kind and most of all, enjoy your freedom.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� with files from Canadian Press
