A cruise ship carrying 251 Canadians has been quarantined off the coast of Japan following a confirmed outbreak of the new coronavirus.
Ten people have tested positive for the virus, but none are Canadian, said a statement from Princess Cruises on Wednesday. The ship is carrying 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew.
“Princess Cruises can confirm that the first phase of health screening of all guests and crew onboard Diamond Princess, by the Japanese Ministry of Health, has been completed,” it said.
The 10 infected cases include two Australians, three Japanese, three people from Hong Kong, and one from the United States, as well as a Filipino crewmember, the statement said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the situation in a scrum with reporters on Wednesday morning, saying he understands the experience will be concerning to the families of those on board but that Canadian officials are working with the Japanese on the matter.
“We are engaged with the Japanese government in terms of how we can provide support for the Canadians. We’re trying to get more information about the situation right now,” he said.
“We want to reassure the families on the cruise ship that we are alert and engaged in their issue.”
Trudeau was asked whether there is any indication the virus is spreading more aggressively — for example, could it be transmitted through food?
He said the Canadian government continues to work with the World Health Organization to monitor the spread of the illness and does not believe there has been any change to the way it is spreading.
“We continue to be assured that the transmission vectors haven’t evolved,” he said.
“Right now the risk to Canadians is still low.”
Covered from head-to-knee by large, white sheets, the positive cases were led by gloved and masked officials onto Coast Guard vessels, to be taken ashore and transported to local hospitals.
The ship will remain under quarantine for 14 days in Yokohama, it said.
Princess Cruises will continue to fully co-operate with and follow the instructions of global medical authorities and the Japanese government, the statement said.
It will also be cancelling the next two Diamond Princess cruises departing Yokohama on Feb. 4 and 12, it said.
The viral outbreak that began in China has so far infected more than 24,500 people globally with 490 deaths reported in the Hubei province, the epicentre of the disease, and one in Hong Kong.
More than 1,800 people on another cruise ship were being screened in Hong Kong after three passengers on a previous voyage were diagnosed with the virus.
© 2020 The Canadian Press
