A new outbreak of pneumonia began in early February, with 67 new cases and 258 confirmed cases on board. In addition, a quarantine officer on board the ship and a first-aid person responsible for transporting patients on board were diagnosed with the infection, resulting in a local driver being infected while picking up a taxi by passengers who had disembarked in okinawa.
So far, there are 334 confirmed cases in japan, including one. Japan has the largest number of infections except china, followed by 67 in singapore,34 in thailand and 28 in south korea.
The Diamond Princess continued to ferment, making other international cruise ships a hot potato.
Many cruise ships have no place to call
On February 1st, the Homei Cruise Line (HMS Whiskey Dan) from Hong Kong, China, carried more than 2,000 people and drifted through Asian waters for 14 days. It was refused entry by Thailand, China, TW, Japan, the Philippines and Guam until February 13, when it was accepted by Cambodia and anchored in Sihanoukville, ending its journey.
Cambodia`s Prime Minister Hun Sen welcomed the first hundred passengers off the boat on the 14th, and welcomed passengers to the beaches and other scenic spots, The Times reported. At the jornalist meeting, mr hunson made a statement on government`s approval of cruise ships to call cambodia. He said cambodia respected human rights and the right to live, and government had tested 20 passengers who reported unwell with a virus and showed a negative response. "Cambodia is not a rich country, but its people are compassionate. "
According to information previously released by WHO, there were no suspected or confirmed cases on the "Wittdan ", and WHO Director-General Tam Desai later thanked Cambodia. However, on social media, there are also some netizens who question that there may be passengers in the latent period of infection, do not underestimate the risk.
Cambodia`s neighboring country, Vietnam, has refused two cruise ships in a row. On the 13th, Vietnam refused access to the German AIDAvita because it had docked in the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, where new cases of coronary pneumonia were reported, according to the agency.
Meanwhile, Norwegian Jade, part of the Norwegian Cruise Lines, has been refused a stop in Vietnam. But the ship`s captain said there were no new cases of coronary pneumonia. On the night of the 14th, according to data released by "Maritime Transport," the Nowezhen Emerald was heading for the port of Linchaban in Thailand.
It is worth noting that, in addition to the outbreak of the new coronavirus, the Spirit of Exploration, which is affiliated with the British cruise company Saga Cruises, recently discovered the Norovirus epidemic. According to Fox News,89 passengers aboard the Spirit of Exploration contracted norovirus and were refused entry by Gibraltar on 11 November before being forced to return to the port of Southampton, England.
The International Cruise Association says Asian cruises account for only 10 per cent of the global cruise industry, but the negative impact of the Princess Diamond epidemic is spreading, with many international cruises canceling their February itineraries.
Who receives international cruise ships on the high seas?
Recently affected by the epidemic, several international cruise ships have experienced delays in customs clearance or have been denied access to ports. Where can a cruise ship that sails on the high seas that do not belong to any country, if it finds an outbreak or an emergency, turn to?
In accordance with article 98 of the Convention on the Law of the Sea of the Common State on the "obligation to salvage ", each coastal State shall promote the adequate application of maritime and air security and the establishment, operation and maintenance of effective search and rescue services, and shall cooperate with neighbouring States for this purpose through mutual regional arrangements, as required. In other words, cruise ships can choose to seek help in the nearest coastal country when they are in danger.
Japan`s Ministry of Health and Labour has sent patients on board to local medical institutions for treatment, but after the accident, Japan has refused to allow overseas cruise ships to dock at Japanese ports.
Do countries have the right to refuse to enter Hong Kong? Under the International Maritime Law, any State may refuse ships to enter the port out of concern for health hazards, and they are obliged to provide assistance only when the vessel seeks help.
Jean Paul Rodriguez, professor of transportation geography at Hofstra University, told the Times of Japan that, at the law level, a country has the right to refuse ships to enter Hong Kong as long as such measures do not cause harm to people on board.
Which country is the cruise ship infected?
More than 3,700 people aboard the "Princess Diamond" cruise ship came from more than 50 countries and regions, while more than 2,000 on the "Vishtedan" came from 41 countries and regions.
Japan`s "daily news "11 reported that japan`s government is trying to persuade the media," the diamond princess cruise ship passengers did not land in japan, cannot count japan`s infection," this may lead to japan as a country banned by other countries. WHO has also responded to Japan`s request to list the ship`s infected patients as "other ".
Japan is so sensitive to the number of cases that the Olympic Games may be one reason. Kyodo news agency said Tokyo`s Olympic Games were due to open in July, and Japan`s government sought to host a safe and secure Olympic Games, with the Diamond Princess cruise likely to trigger an unwanted panic.
Is cabin isolation scientific?
The Ministry of Health and Labour of Japan on the 5th required all personnel aboard the "Princess Diamond" to be isolated on board in principle for 14 days, the earliest on 19 days. The practice has been widely criticized for not helping to contain the epidemic.
Ali S. Khan, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, told Beijing Newsjournallist:" It is well known that the cabin is a relatively confined space, and isolation in such an environment does not help to block the transmission of the virus, which is clearly unscientific and ineffective. This may even accelerate the spread of the epidemic, leading to secondary infections. Personally, I find it unfair that wealthy people live in balconies or windowed cabins that breathe fresh air and have more room for movement. Those who live in relatively low-cost, windowless cabins are in a closed environment for a long time. The odds of infection also differ between the two groups. "
Michael Mina, an infectious disease specialist at Harvard`s School of Public Health, told Forbes News that the decision to block the cruise ship was actually to prevent the virus from spreading from the cabin to Japan, but it was difficult to guarantee that there would be no virus transmission during the 14-day quarantine period, which could infect otherwise healthy passengers. Evacuate cruise passengers to land-specific locations for isolation may be better than cabin isolation.
Why doesn`t Japan allow its crew to evacuate to land sites?
Mr. Kato, japan`s minister of health and labour, said the process of transporting patients was at risk of infection and that Mr. government considered using a medical boat for treatment.
In addition, Marion Koopmans, an epidemiologist at the University of Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands, said a clustered outbreak on board the ship sent a signal that could lead to a wider outbreak on land and risk of evacuation to land sites, according to US media VOX. Several other public health experts have voiced the idea that it is hard for Japan to find the required quarantine to accommodate more than 3,700 people.
Japan`s Ministry of Health and Labour said on the 15th that all passengers of the "Princess Diamond" cruise ship will be tested for virus, the results are negative can be disembarked from the 19th. Passengers over the age of 80 with chronic diseases or living in windowless cabins are given priority examination. If they are not infected with the new coronavirus, they may disembark early and go to the designated location for quarantine.
How does international cruise ship prevent epidemic?
On January 29, the Ministry of Communications and Transport issued the "Emergency Circular of the Ministry of Communications and Transport Concerning the Overall Coordination of the Work of Preventing and Controlling Epidemics and Safeguarding Water Transport ", Article 4 of which states:" Strengthening the Guidance on International Cruise Transport, the relevant provincial transportation authorities shall, together with health, cultural tourism and customs departments, actively guide the relevant international cruise companies to carry out risk assessment on epidemic prevention and control. "
The circular calls for all cruise companies to carry out in-depth risk assessment in view of the severe situation of prevention and control of the current epidemic situation, combining with the characteristics of large carrying capacity of cruise ships, tight space and difficult prevention and control of the epidemic situation in the market, and prudently deciding to suspend the resumption of routes and do a good job in preventing and controlling the epidemic situation of cruise ships.
International cruise companies have also recently responded to the epidemic, such as handing in medical reports before passengers board the ship, avoiding calls at asian ports, cancelling flights and refunding compensation.
