* * At least 706 infection cases - now 6 dead - Diamond Princess * *

[Host Mike]

"Princess Cruises said it has placed 3,700 passengers and crew under mandatory quarantine for two weeks after ten passengers aboard a cruise ship in Yokohama, Japan tested positive for the new coronavirus."

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/04/princess-cruises-quarantines-3700-after-10-passengers-test-positive-for-virus.html

[Host Mike]

"Three of the 10 people infected with the virus are Japanese, as are about half the passengers on board the ship."

"Princess Cruises said the ship would go out to sea before docking at Yokohama to take on provisions. Two cruises that had been scheduled to depart Yokohama Feb. 4 and 12 have been canceled, the company said."

“Princess Cruises will continue to fully cooperate with and follow the instructions of global medical authorities and the Japanese government,” it said in a statement.

[Host Mike]

"For those left on board, there is nothing to do but sit in their cabins, wait for meals to be delivered, watch television or a choose from a limited selection of movies on demand. Those lucky enough to have a balcony can at least sit in the sun, look at the ocean and talk to their neighbors."

"But you're not getting anything really positive or encouraging talking to them," Abel quipped. "It's all doom and gloom as far as they're concerned."

Abel said his greatest sympathy is with those confined to the inside cabins.

"Can you imagine? It would be liked being locked in a wardrobe, wouldn't it?" he said. "No fresh air. No natural light. It really must be a living hell for them."

https://bit.ly/2Sm7ApV

[Host Mike]

"A US couple has appealed directly to President Trump to get them off the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise liner in Tokyo. "

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2020/02/06/cruise-ship-coronavirus-japan-diamond-princess-couple-trapped-honeymoon-hancocks-pkg-intl-ldn-vpx.cnn

[Host Mike]

"I know that room service are also getting these messages ... so can I just give you a message ... could someone on room service just bring me a fresh banana, every day? Just one banana, that's all I'm asking," he pleaded in his most recent post.

"If the captain is listening to this: You needn't get involved on the banana - the room service will sort that, I'm sure - but it would be really good to have a glass of whisky to wash it down.

"I take Talisker, 10-year-old single malt, no ice, no water. It would be fantastic if that could be arranged," he laughed."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/japan-wuhan-coronavirus-cruise-quarantine-passenger-request-12400670

[Host Mike]

"They complained about cramped conditions, and getting poor-quality or inappropriate food."

https://www.pulse.com.gh/bi/politics/passengers-on-the-cruise-ship-quarantined-off-japan-over-coronavirus-are-stir-crazy/88n8fg8

[Host Mike]

"The cruise line is screening everyone on board for signs of coronavirus. Rebecca said staff are stationed in the hallway to make sure everyone stays in their rooms, and food is delivered from the doorway on a tray.

“You kind of never think that this sort of situation, outbreak is going to reach you directly so close,” she said. “Just kind of taking it in stride and hope to get it done with soon, get back home.”

Rebecca said they had to fill out a health questionnaire, staff came in to take their temperature, and then they had to get a throat swab."

https://www.kptv.com/news/forest-grove-couple-among-thousands-stuck-on-quarantined-cruise-ship/article_b78f63e4-48aa-11ea-9c3b-a7e0e9332351.html

[Host Mike]

"Meals are being delivered by people in hazmat suits. Elaina said via Facebook that they have been given coffee and juice, but little water.

Elaina said they are delivering masks and she hopes they will soon let them go on deck for shorts periods of time.

She said Princess is doing a great job of delivering meals and keeping them updated, but added it will be a long 13 days."

https://keyt.com/news/santa-barbara-s-county/2020/02/05/local-couple-on-cruise-quarantined-due-to-coronavirus-fears/

[Host Mike]

"Japan on Thursday confirmed another 10 infections among 3,700 passengers and crew stuck onboard the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship moored off the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo. Ten people had tested positive for the illness on Wednesday."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/coronavirus-deaths-reach-563-with-fresh-cases-on-stricken-cruise-ship-off-japan/ar-BBZIuxB

[Host Mike]

"Passengers Milena Basso and her husband Gaetano Cerullo are calling for help from President Trump after being trapped on a Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan with at least 61 positive cases of coronavirus."

The two reported they were already experiencing trouble getting food and water on the ship, which Basso guestimated produces around 22,000 meals per day and has five dining halls.

"I don't know how many people have been on a cruise, but you can eat a lot of food pretty fast. Once the quarantine happened, what we could eat basically went downhill," said Cerullo.

"The first day when we asked for two bottles of water it took four hours and the next day we got two cups," he added."

https://www.foxnews.com/media/japan-coronavirus-cruise-ship-passengers-plead-for-help-from-president-trump

[Host Mike]

"Days ago, when he went down to the first level of the ship for a medical screening, he stood near a woman who he thought was very sick.

"You could hear that cough that's deep down in your lungs. I empathized with her and felt so bad," he said. But he also recalled thinking to himself, "Okay, I don't want to be in this room."

https://www.insider.com/on-the-quarantined-diamond-princess-passengers-strive-to-stay-hopeful-2020-2

[Host Mike]

With the quarantine due to last until 19 February, there has also been concern over supplies of normal medicine to the ship.

One passenger has been waving a Japanese flag with the message "shortage of medicine".

A Japanese TV crew on the shore responded with a banner asking: "What medicine?"

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51409800

[Host Mike]

 "During the remainder of the time onboard, guests will continue to be provided complimentary internet and telephone service to stay in contact with their family and loved ones. In addition, we have added additional live TV channels and a large selection of in-room movies available in multiple languages. The cruise activities staff is packaging games, puzzles and trivia and delivering them to guest staterooms."

https://abcnews.go.com/International/11-americans-aboard-cruise-ship-japan-infected-coronavirus/story?id=68819290

[Host Mike]

"Reuters reported Thursday that the Hakuo could host Diamond Princess passengers, causing a commotion among some U.S. base residents. Some posted pictures on social media of the Hakuo, calling it the “SS Coronavirus.”

"The defense ministry decided later to employ the ferry as sleeping quarters for its personnel, a joint staff spokesman told Stars and Stripes on Friday. Some Japanese officials customarily speak on condition of anonymity.

The Self-Defense Forces personnel aboard the Hakuo, which is now berthed at Yokohama’s Honmoku Pier near the Diamond Princess, began tending to the cruise ship’s passengers and crew on Friday, the joint staff spokesman said. They are providing medical care and other assistance."

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/ferry-spotted-near-yokosuka-won-t-host-ship-passengers-quarantined-for-coronavirus-japan-says-1.617907

[Host Mike]

"The vicar who conducted the wedding ceremony for the Shropshire lorry driver who has tested positive for coronavirus said the couple had brought their wedding forward specifically to take their honeymoon cruise on the Diamond Princess."

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/health/2020/02/07/shropshire-coronavirus-man-brought-wedding-forward-to-take-honeymoon-cruise-on-diamond-princess/