Cruise ship currently quarantined off California scheduled to come to Victoria in April

Cruise ship currently quarantined off California scheduled to come to Victoria in April
Grand Princess - Cruise Ship Reviews / Facebook
A cruise ship that has been quarantined off the coast of San Francisco is scheduled to come to Victoria in just under a month.

A cruise ship that has been quarantined off the coast of San Francisco is scheduled to come to Victoria in just under a month.

The Grand Princess is set to be the first cruise ship to arrive in Victoria for the 2020 season, slated to arrive at 7 am on April 3 in the Ogden Point Terminal.

Currently the ship is being held in limbo by health officials over fears of a possible COVID-19 outbreak. On board the vessel are 235 Canadians and over 3,500 total passengers.

The ship made the journey across the Pacific Ocean, from Hawaii to San Francisco, but was halted upon arrival and delivered test kits so passengers could be screened for the virus.

The fear of contamination sparked after a traveller who was on board the previous voyage died from the disease, while at least two other became infected, according to reports from California health officers.

“The ship will not come on shore until we appropriately assess the passengers,” California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Thursday.

Princess Cruise Lines notified the passengers that federal health officials are investigating a “small cluster” of coronavirus cases connected to the ship’s mid-February voyage.

The company asked current passengers to stay in their cabins until they are cleared by medical staff and said those who had been on the previous voyage should contact their doctors if they develop fever or other symptoms.

Samples from 45 passengers have been collected and are in the process of being tested for COVID-19, said California officials.

Alberta also announced their first presumptive case and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer for the province reported the woman was on board the Grand Princess in mid-February as well.

According to a statement from Princess Cruises, fewer than 100 guests and crew members have been identified for testing by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

With files to Peter Zimonjic and Brennan MacDonald with CBC News

CHEK NewsCHEK News

Recent Stories

Send us your news tips and videos!