SAN FRANCISCO — Thousands of people remain confined to a cruise ship circling in international waters off the San Francisco Bay Area after 21 passengers and crew members tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Grand Princess is forbidden to dock in San Francisco. The Grand Princess is approximately 50 miles off the coast of San Francisco. State and federal officials say they are working to bring the ship to a non-commercial port this weekend and test the 3,500 people aboard.
RELATED: While Grand Princess cruise guests await test results, former passengers are waiting to be tested
"The Captain of Grand Princess and the Princess Cruises port operations team continue to await specific directives from state and local response operations about where the ship will proceed," the cruise line said in a press release.
The U.S. Coast Guard delivered personal protective equipment, which included gloves and face masks, via helicopter to the cruise ship Friday evening, according to a Princess Cruises.
A critically ill U.S. guest and their travel companion were medically disembarked from the Grand Princess by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter Saturday morning, the press release said. The two travelers are being transported to a shoreside medical facility for treatment unrelated to COVID-19.
Nineteen people have died in the U.S. from the virus, including two deaths announced Friday in Florida. All but three of those deaths occurred in Washington state. The number of infections has swelled to nearly 400. Pennsylvania, Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska reported their first cases.
BACKGROUND
According to the CDC, coronavirus (COVID-19) is a family of viruses that is spreadable from person to person. Coronavirus is believed to have been first detected in a seafood market in Wuhan, China in December 2019. If someone is sick with coronavirus, the symptoms they may show include mild to severe respiratory illness, cough, and difficulty breathing.
Currently, there is no vaccine, however, the CDC suggests the following precautions, along with any other respiratory illness:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
- Wash your hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds.
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