Coronavirus grand princess cruise ship waits off california for virus tests
The Grand Princess cruise ship, which was carrying over 3,500 passengers and crew members, was placed in quarantine off the coast of California on March 5, 2020, after a passenger on board tested positive for COVID-19.
The ship, which had departed from San Francisco on February 21, was initially scheduled to return to the city on March 19. However, after the positive test result, the ship was diverted to the coast of California and anchored off the coast of Oakland, where it remained for several days while passengers and crew members were tested for the virus.
The testing process was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health, and it took several days to complete. During this time, the ship was placed in a "modified quarantine" status, which meant that passengers and crew members were not allowed to leave the ship, but they were still able to receive food, water, and medical care.
On March 10, the CDC announced that 21 people on board the ship had tested positive for COVID-19, and that an additional 46 people were being tested. The ship's captain announced that the ship would remain in quarantine until all passengers and crew members had been tested and cleared of the virus.
On March 19, the CDC announced that all passengers and crew members on board the ship had been tested and cleared of the virus, and that the ship was being allowed to dock in Oakland. The ship's passengers were then taken to a nearby hotel, where they were quarantined for an additional 14 days.
The incident on the Grand Princess cruise ship highlighted the risks associated with COVID-19 and the importance of taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. It also led to a number of changes in the way that cruise ships operate, including the implementation of new health and safety protocols and the requirement that all passengers and crew members be tested for COVID-19 before boarding.