Coronavirus : general discussion focussed on the impact on the cruise industry

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Glad that Westerdam has meanwhile been allowed to land in Cambodia, with none of her passengers affected by the coronavirus. She was given a great welcome there by the Prime Minister!

The coronavirus of Diamond Princess has very sadly spread beyond the ship. Two taxi drivers who had driven some passengers before the ship was quarantined, have been infected and one has died. Some of the medical staff who have been testing the passengers on board the ship have also been infected. Just to think that apparently one ill passenger infected so many on board, who in turn infected others...

Some frail passengers who are not ill have meanwhile been allowed to leave the ship for a government facility on land, and the first batch of quarantined passengers should be able to disembark on Wednesday.

[Chris Thompson]

Feel really sorry for the Diamond Princess crew, imagine being confined to a crew cabln!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Getting the crew and passengers off the ship is another nightmare, also for the Japanese authorities :

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/14/national/japan-clear-coronavirus-cruise-ship/

And it's not the usual St Valentine's Day for them either, as they try to make the best of it :

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/14/national/valentines-diamond-princess-cruise-japan/

[Rob Lightbody]

It seems pretty clear now, that quarantining on a cruise ship doesn't work, for whatever reason.  In fact in this case it appears to have simply been a waste of time, as passengers now have to undergo quarantine again ashore. 
The long incubation time, now thought to be more than 14 days, makes matters very difficult - an entire cruise could take place, with an infections person amongst the thousands of passengers, and also when you add on that one of the most vulnerable groups is the elderly, its just not good all round.

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

I am actually beginning to wonder about long-haul (and even short-haul) flights...

[Chris Thompson]

My wife used to work for a marine company right next to the dock in Port Everglades. When they had the bad Norovirus outbreak on one of the HAL ships she watched them throwing mattresses and linens in dumpsters for several days, wonder if this will happen on the Diamond Princess??

[Peter Mugridge]

I am actually beginning to wonder about long-haul (and even short-haul) flights...

On most modern airliners, the air conditioning works in distinct "zones" rather than circulating the entire cabin precisely for the reason of preventing infectious contaminants from spreading freely.  However there will of course inevitably be some circulation along the length of the aircraft as people walk around, so I'm not convinced of how effecting the zoning would be in practice.

[Rob Lightbody]

From speaking to colleagues at work, a few of them were thinking of taking cruises this year, but have cancelled plans.  I would imagine this will be widespread, until its clearer what is going on.

So for the brave (and healthy) I'm sure there will be some bargains on offer soon...

[Rob Lightbody]

Queen Mary 2 cruise ship delivers tourism boost to WA after coronavirus diversion to Fremantle

[Rob Lightbody]

Worth watching before it's taken down...

Brave man.


Japanese infection control specialist gets access to Diamond Princess, says infection prevention protocols not being followed, chaotic situation. Bureaucrats, rather than infection prevention professionals, were running everything  "violating all infection control principles"

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

The video has indeed been removed (by the user), but not without having had consequences in tightening the protocol applying to the Self Defence Forces working on the Diamond Princess.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/02/21/national/sdf-protection-diamond-princess-princess-video/

[Rob Lightbody]

Carnival share price taking an absolute hammering.

First is Carnival UK, second is Carnival Corporation.  Both are lower than they've been for 5 years+

[Rob Lightbody]

This cartoon was in Private Eye this week... (attached).

The situation is obviously not improving.

Princess Cruises released this :-

[Rob Lightbody]

Some new developments...

Coronavirus: cruise ship passengers at Réunion Island threatened by violent protests

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/03/sun-princess-passengers-threatened-by-protesters-on-reunion-island-as-coronavirus-fears-rise

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Coronavirus: cruise ship passengers at Réunion Island threatened by violent protests

There is a lot of fear throughout sub-Saharan Africa (where so far there has been only one single case, in Nigeria) that coronavirus might arrive and then be hard to keep under control.

Screening of passengers (whether arriving by ship or by plane) is regarded as essential, and where this is not done, anger and fear result. It is tough on a small country like Réunion, which would normally welcome the tourist revenue.