The coronavirus, now referred to by health officials as COVID-19, has been said to originate from Wuhan, China, and causes a potentially fatal respiratory disease. Since its discovery, there have been over 83,907 people infected and 2,869 deaths across the world. The majority of the infected people are located in China, which is around 78,832, the epicenter of the virus. The initial spread, however, stemmed from cruise ships that have sailed near China and Japan. 

With the close proximity of people on cruise ships, the spread of infection and disease is higher in comparison to other public venues. This has been observed in less serious cases with stomach bugs that have been recorded on cruise ships in the past. Making cruise ships a perfect petri-dish per se for COVID-19 to spread. 

WHO’s director of global infection, Sylvia Briand said: “The infection prevention and control measures are difficult to implement in a ship environment.”

Cruise Ship Infection Rate Timeline

February 23, 2020 – 4 new UK cases 

Details: Four cruise ship passengers who were on board the Diamond Princess ship in Japan, were diagnosed with COVID-19. The total number of cases in the UK is now 13. 

February 20, 2020 – Passengers disembark the ship

Details: About 600 passengers who were on board the Diamond Princess have been cleared by the Japanese Ministry of Health to disembark. 

February 19, 2020 – Diamond Princess ends the quarantine

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed that the Embassies of Canada, Australia, and Hong Kong are coordinating the collection and transport of their respective citizens (guests and crew) via charter flights today.

February 18, 2020 – 169 new cases of COVID-19

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed announcements, made by the Japanese Ministry of Health over the past 48 hours, which include a total of 169 new positive cases of COVID-19 onboard the Diamond Princess. 

February 17, 2020 – 14 “Infected” Americans flown to the U.S.

Details: Fourteen American passengers who tested positive for COVID-19 have been flown to military bases in Texas and California. They were evacuated from the Diamond Princess. 

February 17, 2020 – Canada will evacuate Canadians 

Details: Princess Cruises was notified by the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo that the Government of Canada will provide chartered aircraft to bring all Canadian persons, currently quarantined on Diamond Princess, back to Canada.

February 16, 2020 – 44 American cases 

Details: About 400 Americans were on board the Diamond Princess ship, about 44 are said to be infected, although not all of them are sick. 

February 16, 2020 – 67 new cases of COVID-19

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed an announcement from the Japanese Ministry of Health, that there are 67 new positive cases of COVID-19 (previously referred to by health officials as novel coronavirus) onboard the Diamond Princess.

February 16, 2020 – 1 American case

Details: An American woman who left the MS Westerdam ship and took a flight to Malaysia was later diagnosed with the coronavirus. She was not displaying any symptoms when she left the ship. 

February 15, 2020 – U.S. will evacuate Americans

Details: Princess Cruises was notified by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo that the U.S. Department of State will provide chartered aircraft to bring all American persons (guests and crew) who are either citizens or permanent residents, currently quarantined on Diamond Princess, back to the United States.

February 13, 2020 – MS Westerdam ship docked in Cambodia

Details: The MS Westerdam cruise ship was forced to dock in Cambodia after being turned away by other countries. At that time there was no indication of anyone infected. 

February 11, 2020 – 39 new cases on the Diamond Princess

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed an announcement from the Japanese Ministry of Health, that there are 39 new positive cases of coronavirus onboard the Diamond Princess.

February 10, 2020 – 135 cases on the Diamond Princess ship

Details: On the quarantined Diamond Princess ship, there are 135 cases of infected passengers, including 20 Americans. 

February 9, 2020 – 66 passengers diagnosed with the coronavirus

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed an additional 66 cases of the coronavirus as tested by the Japanese Ministry of Health on Diamond Princess. These cases are from Australia (4), Canada (1), England (1), Japan (45), Philippines (3), Ukraine (1), and the USA (11).

February 9, 2020 – Passengers will receive a full refund

Details: Princess Cruises announced that passengers will receive a full refund and future cruise credits.

February 5, 2020 – Diamond Princess ship under Japanese quarantine

Details: After a passenger who left the ship was diagnosed with the coronavirus in Hong Kong, Japan ordered a quarantine be placed on the Diamond Princess ship. 

February 4, 2020 – 10 passengers tested positive for the coronavirus

Details: The Japanese Ministry of Health has completed there testing, they have notified Princess Cruises of the samples that have completed testing. It was discovered that 10 people have tested positive for the coronavirus. This includes two Australian guests, three Japanese guests, three guests from Hong Kong, and one guest from the U.S. in addition to one Filipino crewmember.

February 4, 2020 – Japanese public health authorities review case 

Details: Princess Cruises has decided to cancel the next voyage of Diamond Princess to help Japan public health authorities to review the health status of all guests and crew on board.

February 1, 2020 – Passenger from Hong Kong contracts the coronavirus

Details: Princess Cruises confirmed that a passenger from Hong Kong who traveled for five days on Diamond Princess from Yokohama on January 20 and disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25, tested positive for the coronavirus on February 1, six days after leaving the ship. 

Resources:

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/16/806470340/americans-evacuate-diamond-princess-cruise-ship-amid-spread-of-infection

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/02/17/806634515/14-americans-taken-off-cruise-ship-and-flown-to-u-s-test-positive-for-coronaviru

https://www.princess.com/news/notices_and_advisories/notices/diamond-princess-update.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-51606368