Update 3/11:
The California Office of Emergency Services (OES) released new figures on the progress of disembarkation from the Grand Princess cruise ship docked in Oakland.
According to Cal OES, as of 8:30 p.m. on March 10, 1,045 people were disembarked from the ship.
Officials say 613 people were taken by bus to Travis Air Force Base; 42 were flown to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego; 124 were flown to Dobbins Air Reserve in Marietta, Georgia; and 98 people were flown to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas.
Another 168 people were citizens of the United Kingdom. Those individuals were sent on a chartered flight back to the UK for repatriation.
Original:
The Grand Princess cruise ship carrying 21 passengers infected with coronavirus docked at the Port of Oakland on Monday, but many passengers are still waiting to be released as of Tuesday morning.
Some passengers onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship are already at different quarantine sites, including at Travis Air Force Base. The ship docked Monday afternoon in Oakland, letting people in medical need off first to go to hospitals. However, a day after it docked, hundreds remain inside the ship without knowing when they’ll actually get out. According to Gov. Gavin Newsom and officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], the disembarking process could take up to three days.
As of Tuesday morning, Carolyn Wyler and her husband, both from Sacramento, were still on the ship unsure of when they'd be allowed to leave.
"I don't like being this confined. But at least we have a balcony, you know. I feel bad for the people who have indoor cabins,” Wyler told ABC10 during a FaceTime interview.
The first group taken off the ship were those needing immediate medical treatment. They were moved to California hospitals.
The second group of passengers, among which were 962 Californians, was bussed to Oakland International Airport to be flown to different quarantine sites. Others still were taken to Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield to begin their 14-day quarantine.
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Some Californians will be flown down to Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, the CDC said.
Nearly 24 hours after initially docking, more passengers are expected to disembark. Once all California passengers are off the ship, the next group of people is other Americans, who will be flown to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and Dobbins Air Reserve Base just outside of Atlanta.
The process was carefully analyzed by health officials and announced Sunday. Newsom said it was “not a gross exaggeration to secure their safety. Their health is our top priority."
However, Wyler and her husband disagree.
"I am kind of thinking this was an overreaction. However, I understand the paranoia of people out there, the fear of getting sick,” Wyler said. “Being a nurse, I recognize the virus and how deadly it can be to certain people.”
As of Tuesday morning, more than 1,100 Grand Princess crew members remained onboard for quarantine. They will stay on the ship for 14 days and head back out to sea once all the passengers have disembarked.
The ship carried more than 3,500 passengers from 54 countries. Of the passengers aboard, 938 were from California. From those numbers, at least 21 people are known to have tested positive for coronavirus.
According to the California Office of Emergency Services (OES), as of 8:30 p.m. on March 9, 407 people were disembarked from the ship. Of those, 173 of those were U.S. citizens., 149 of whom were transported by bus to Travis Air Force Base. The other 24 were transported by ambulance to area hospitals, not necessarily due to coronavirus, officials said.
The other 234 passengers who disembarked were Canadian citizens. Of those, 232 were transported fro repatriation to Canada. The remaining two were transported by ambulance to area hospitals, not necessarily due to coronavirus, officials said.
CORONAVIRUS 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.
The CDC also says face masks should only be used by people who show symptoms of the virus. If you’re not sick, you do not have to wear a face mask. The CDC says the immediate risk to the U.S. public is low.
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COVID19 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.
WHY HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SO CONCERNED
Some people have compared the low overall death toll to the flu's high annual death toll in the United States as a reason not to be concerned about COVID-19, however, doctors and health officials are concerned for three main reasons:
- There's no vaccine yet and won't be one for until early 2021, at the soonest. Scientists are still researching what other medications could help patients.
- Some people have built up immunity to the flu, but few have immunity to COVID-19 version of coronavirus.
- Both the flu and COVID-19 are spread by droplets, but COVID-19 might be spread in the air. Scientists are researching exactly how COVID-19 spreads.
HEAR FROM DOCTORS:
Dr. Payal Kohli, a cardiologist & doctor of internal medicine, spoke with ABC10's Walt Gray about the novel coronavirus, those most at risk, vaccine timeline, & more.
Dr. Dean Blumberg, the Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis, answered some FAQs from ABC10 viewers about the coronavirus: