Americans disembark from Diamond Princess without COVID-19 testing
Americans began to disembark a quarantined cruise ship docked off Yokohama, Japan on February 17
The Americans are set to take flights back home after being quarantined on the Diamond Princess for 14 days
In America, the passengers will have to undergo yet another 14-day isolation period
The quarantine was set when a former passenger tested positive for COVID-19 in early February
The number of COVID-19 cases onboard the ship has since reached 355
Over a thousand passengers have been tested for the disease
The Americans who were able to leave the ship on February 17 went through a passport check
However, they were not tested before boarding the buses bringing them to their flights
A few passengers believe that the US government should have intervened sooner, considering the Diamond Princess is an American cruise ship
While some Americans were glad to leave, others would rather stay
They have been told that they will have to wait until they test negative for COVID-19 before being allowed to go home
They argue that they would rather stay healthy and safe until their quarantine ends, instead of being confined with untested former passengers
They are afraid of being put on a bus and plane with others who are probably infected
46 Americans onboard have tested positive for the virus
Many believe that what happened with the Diamond Princess was a failed quarantine
Japan had first decided to quarantine the ship’s passengers
Then, it was reported that around a thousand crew members still ate together and failed to wear masks, despite the quarantine
Japan doesn’t have enough health kits to test every single person on the Diamond Princess
However, they are testing those who are exhibiting symptoms and those older than 70
Anyone who tests negative for COVID-19 will be able to disembark by February 21
Hong Kong and Canada will be flying home residents on the Diamond Princess
Taiwan and Australia have yet to announce if they will push through with flying home their own residents
Diamond Princess crew members had to wait a long while until Princess Cruises addressed their queries
Princess Cruises said that the crew members will have to go through another 14-day quarantine once passengers leave
Illness outbreaks are quite common on cruise ships.
In 2014, National Geographic wrote about the likelihood of norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships
Infection is easily spread in cruises because thousands of people are left in a confined space
In the case of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believe it is spread through close contact
People can spread it to others within six feet of them, mainly through respiratory droplets when one coughs or sneezes
The most dangerous part of a cruise ship is the buffet, with passengers all coming into contact with the food
Anyone thinking of going on a cruise is advised to practice good hygiene
This includes washing and santizing one’s hands frequently and avoiding buffets