Ritu Jha-
Princess Cruises has confirmed that the ship being held off the Northern California coast has more than 130 people aboard from India among the more than 3.500 people representing 54 nationalities.
“Confirming there are 130 team members and 1 passenger onboard who have passports from India,” a Princess spokesperson responded by email to an inquiry from indica.
However, the spokesperson did not conform if any of those crew or passengers are among the 21 people onboard who have tested positive for COVID-19. According to recent reports, there have been19 confirmed deaths and more than 330 cases in the US. Worldwide, more than 100,000 people have been infected.
The Indian Consulate in San Francisco told indica they were not aware of any Indians stranded on the ship and have not receive any requests for help.
The ship, the Grand Princess with more than 3,500 passengers and crew aboard, was ordered to immediately return to San Francisco and cancel the final port of call, in Mexico, of 15-day voyage to Hawaii. There are 2,422 passengers and 1,111 crew representing 54 nationalities on the Grand Princess for its Hawaii voyage, according to the cruise line. The ship is to dock at a non-public port in Oakland, California, on Monday, according to reports.
Princess Cruises has confirmed that the results from the first phase of health screenings of 45 guests and crew onboard Grand Princess were completed.
“We were notified by Vice President Pence while he was conducting a press conference and simultaneously by the U.S. Centers of Disease Control (CDC) speaking to our shipboard doctor that among the samples tested, 21 people have tested positive for COVID-19 which includes two (2) guests and 19 crew.”
According to the Princess Cruises, a critically ill U.S. guest and a travel companion were medically disembarked and were transported to a shoreside medical facility for treatment unrelated to COVID-19.
Pence said at the news conference that everyone on the ship will be tested
According to the press release, the ship’s doctor is in the process of informing the guests and crew of their individual results. All guests and affected crew will remain isolated in their rooms.
Guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone to stay in contact with their families and loved ones, and the ship’s company is working to keep all guests comfortable, the cruise line said. The ship has transitioned food and beverage service to provide room service for all staterooms. And Princess Cruises medical team is collecting information from guests regarding any prescription medication refills needed.
“We are working with CDC to determine what additional precautionary measures, if any, will be required,” Princess said.
Photo Courtesy Twitter @PrincessCruises
