21 people test positive for coronavirus on California cruise ship, out of 46 tested so far
Nearly half of the people initially tested aboard a cruise ship being held in waters off San Francisco have been infected with coronavirus, Vice President Pence said Friday.
Results for 21 of the 46 people officials tested Thursday came back positive, raising fears that the virus could be spreading widely among the more than 3,500 people aboard the Grand Princess. Pence said those infected include 19 crew members and two passengers.
The vice president said authorities plan to bring the cruise ship to a “non-commercial port” over the weekend, where all passengers and crew will be tested for the disease and quarantined as necessary.The public health crisis on the ship echoed a similar one from last month, when 700 people aboard another Princess Cruises ship, the Diamond Princess, became infected with coronavirus while the ship was quarantined for weeks off
Yokohama harbor in Japan.
U.S. officials, however, made clear Friday they have no intention of keeping the Grand Princess at sea and in limbo for nearly that long. Back onshore, coronavirus continued its march across the nation and the globe Friday, upending economies, stretching government resources and alarming health officials. At least a half-dozen additional states — including Pennsylvania, Kentucky, South Carolina, Hawaii, Oklahoma and Minnesota — announced suspected cases of the virus, meaning half of all states are now wrestling with the outbreak. New York’s number doubled to 44. Nationally, 17 people have now died from covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, with Florida reporting two deaths on Friday. The total number of U.S. cases has eclipsed 300, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Globally, coronavirus cases have now surpassed 100,000, with the trend showing few signs of slowing. Friday prayers were disrupted across the Middle East, as thousands of mosques were shuttered.
New cases also surfaced across Europe, and President Emmanuel Macron urged French citizens to stop visiting the elderly. Pence’s announcement at the White House seemed at odds with the wishes of President Trump, who said during a visit Friday afternoon at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta that he would prefer to keep passengers on the Grand Princess for the moment. “I don’t need to have the [infection] numbers double because of one ship that wasn’t our fault, and wasn’t the fault of the people on the ship either,” he said.
“I can live either way with it. I’d rather have the people stay on, personally.”
But public health experts say cruise ships are particularly dangerous places during outbreaks because of the combination of close quarters and staff members without the needed training and resources. “This is probably the least ideal environment to try and quarantine and maintain proper infection prevention measures,” said Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist with Honor Health, a Phoenix hospital system. The situation with the Grand Princess is particularly fraught because authorities are also racing to track down passengers who took an earlier voyage on the ship last month to Mexico. A 71-year-old man from that trip later
died in California from covid-19.
The 3,533 people aboard the Grand Princess — 2,422 guests and 1,111 crew representing 54 nationalities — learned of the test results and the government’s plans for the ship only as Pence spoke from the White House. In a message to passengers, the ship’s captain apologized for not breaking the news to them about the positive test results, saying that “we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the U.S. federal government.” The captain said the CDC was discussing individual results with the ship’s doctor and that the California Department of Public Health had asked everyone to remain isolated in their rooms, according to a recording provided to The Washington Post. “This is an evolving situation, and we are doing our best to tell you what we know in a timely manner.”
Stuart Freedman, a 61-year-old retired high school math teacher stuck on the ship, sounded largely resigned about what lay ahead. Freedman said he will be glad to get tested so at least he can find out one way or the other about the virus. But he was frustrated by the president’s remarks. “The thing I didn’t like is President Trump wants to keep us on this petri dish because he doesn’t want his numbers to spike,” Freedman said. “He cares more about his numbers than about us.” As they spent Friday waiting for news of tests results and where government officials might send the troubled ship, they found themselves by turns frustrated, bored and apprehensive.
Passengers were given sheets asking about their meal choices. Princess Cruises said in a statement Friday that workers would distribute forms allowing guests to request prescription refills, and the cruise line offered free Internet access and complimentary phone calls. Some played Sudoku. Others played cards. Kailee Higgins Ott, 17, and her mother, Leeann Higgins, feasted on a large breakfast of pancakes, bacon, eggs, pastries, fruit and yogurt. Lunch included pasta, fajitas and cream puffs. They watched “Charlie’s Angels.” When she told a fellow passenger she was out of toothpaste — both were out on their balconies — her neighbor offered her an extra tube.
“Everyone’s being super nice,” Higgins Ott said.
For passenger Kari Kolstoe, the wait meant uncertainty about whether she would get back home to Grand Forks, N.D., in time for cancer treatment early next week. Kolstoe, 60, who said she has Stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer, said it had been “a very difficult winter” and that the cruise was supposed to be a much-needed respite. “I’ve been wanting to get away this winter,” she said in a telephone interview from her room. Instead, Kolstoe said, she was stuck in her room, cycling among boredom, frustration and angst. Neither Kolstoe nor her husband have any symptoms or have been tested, she said, adding that she wants to get off the ship before that happens because of her “compromised” situation. “I’m trying to stay positive,” she said. “And [I] know that everybody’s under a lot of stress.”
Wray McClelland, who has been on the ship since Feb. 11 and confined to his room since Wednesday, said he and his wife have been talking, watching TV, playing games and doing whatever possible to pass the time. He said in an email Thursday night that his thoughts were with the crew members who had to work through the uncertainty. “I cannot imagine,” he said. “Fearful of the virus and working so hard and still having contact with us in the form of sheets and dishes while so much is unknown about the virus.”
Friday remained mostly patient, if anxious, as they tried to make the best of a grim situation.
“People are kind of collegial in a situation like this,” he said. “Most people are dealing with it the best they can.” As he sat confined in his room on the sprawling ship, he was mostly sanguine about what might lie ahead as public officials try to defuse the latest calamity fueled by the ever-expanding global outbreak. “If we get it, hopefully we’re going to survive it,” he said. “If not, you’ve got to die of something. That’s my attitude.”
Has the Coronavirus Changed Your Daily Routine?
As with everyone else in the world, we at Everyday Health are consumed with everything coronavirus and have even been adjusting our daily routines. (Have you ever seen so much hand sanitizing?) We’re continually interviewing experts to get the most up-to-date information to keep our community informed with tips for preparedness and the latest outbreak numbers.
But we want to hear from you, too! How has this novel outbreak affected your daily life? Have you changed your behavior? Let us know below.
Keep in mind viruses cause respiratory illness: parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, coronaviruses, rhinoviruses….not to mention bacteria such as Streptococcus. Despite the fact that your world teams with infectious microorganisms, most of the time, you’re reasonable healthy, right? Thank your immune system, which defends you from disease-causing microbes. Now, step beyond the right attitude & having gratitude to optimize
the function of your immune system.
Get enough sleep and manage stress. Sleep deprivation and stress overload increase the hormone cortisol, prolonged elevation of which suppresses immune function.
Avoid tobacco smoke. It undermines basic immune defenses and raises the risk of bronchitis and pneumonia in everyone, and middle ear infections in kids.
Drink less alcohol. Excessive consumption impairs the immune system and increases vulnerability to lung infections.
Eat more vegetables. Vegetables, as well as fruits, nuts, and seeds, are loaded with nutrients that we need to keep our immune systems in top health. In particular, cruciferous vegetables like cabbage, kale, and broccoli help support liver function,
a key part of our bodies’ natural detoxification process. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds, which will provide your body with the nutrients your immune system needs.
A study in older adults showed that boosting fruit and vegetable intake improved antibody response to the Pneumovax vaccine, which protects against Streptococcus pneumonia.
Consider taking probiotics. Probiotics, or “good” bacteria, are not only an important part of
a healthy digestive process but also our immune systems, scientists are still studying exactly how and why this happens. A study on athletes found that probiotic supplements helped prevent and combat colds, but you can also get probiotics from naturally fermented food sources, like yogurt and kimchi. Studies indicate supplements reduce the incidence of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Fermented milk products have also been shown
to reduce respiratory infections in adults and kids.
Catch some rays. Sunlight triggers the skin’s production of vitamin D. In the summer, a 10-15 minute exposure (minus sunscreen) is enough. However, above 42 degrees latitude (Boston) from November through February, sunlight is too feeble and few foods contain this vitamin. Low vitamin D levels correlate with a greater risk of respiratory infection. A 2010 study in kids showed that 1200 IU a day of supplemental vitamin D reduced the risk of influenza A. However, a 2012 study that involved supplementing adults with colon cancer with 1000 IU a day failed
to demonstrate protection against upper respiratory infections.
Go for the garlic. Garlic is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent and immune booster. Because heat deactivates a key active ingredient, add it to foods just before serving.
Make room for ‘shrooms. Certain types of mushrooms, particularly Japanese mushrooms like shiitake, maitake, (sometimes sold as “hen of the woods”) turkey tail and oyster mushrooms, have recently been shown to support the production of immune cells. They’re also loaded with antioxidants. A recent study showed that a concentrated extract of shiitake enhanced immune function in women with breast cancer.
Spice up your cooking. Pungent but tasty garlic, ginger and turmeric are delicious, immune-boosting additions to the family diet. Raw garlic in particular contains antimicrobial and cancer-fighting agents, and ginger has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat nausea, colds, and flu symptoms. Try immune-supportive herbs. If you get recurrent infections, consider taking immune-supportive herbs such as (Eleutherococcus senticocus), Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng), American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), or astragalus
(A. membranaceus). A soothing herbal tea can help with relaxation, sleep, and stress reduction.
Of course, you should always talk to a doctor before making herbal treatments a regular part
of your arsenal.
Laugh A lot. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after. Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
Limit Coffee to two cups per day. If coffee is your co-pilot, the thought of giving it up for any reason might seem incomprehensible. But if you wondered if coffee affects your gut health. Unfortunately, the answer is yes. “Because of coffee’s acidity, it can adversely affect the lining of your stomach and intestines.
Remember your A-B-C-D-Es. A lack of micronutrients — i.e., vitamins — has been linked to reduced immunity. Taking a multivitamin supplement, along with eating a healthy diet rich in natural sources of nutrients, boosts overall health as well as the immune system. In particular, vitamins A, B2, B6, C, D and E have been studied in relation to immune response, and seem to play a key role in helping us avoid illness.
Micromanage your minerals. In addition to a range of vitamins, it is important to get enough — but not too much — of key minerals that are important to daily health. Selenium, according to Harvard Medical School, may help prevent cancer, and zinc is a critical ingredient for the proper function of our immune cells. However, experts caution that too much zinc can actually impair immune function, so it’s important to stick to the recommended daily allowance.
Open your mouth and say “om.” While the physical effects of stress are still being studied by scientists, studies have so far proven that chronic stress can lead to a variety of negative effects on physical and emotional well-being, including a reduced immune response. Stress-reducing practices like meditation, massage, and even music can help us relax and improve our immune function.
Keep on moving. Regular exercise contributes to our overall health in numerous ways,
and a healthy body means a smoothly functioning immune system. Some forms of exercise,
like tai chi and yoga, are also particularly suited for reducing stress and improving the strength, balance and flexibility that we often lose as we age.
Run a relaxing bath. A nice hot bath, with Epsom salt or relaxing aromatherapy scents,
can go a long way toward reducing our stress — and making us sleepy. Sleep is one of the
key ways our bodies repair themselves, and sleep deprivation, reports Mother Earth News, “activates the stress response, depresses immune function and elevates inflammatory chemicals.”
Boosting your family’s immunity doesn’t have to be a chore — in fact, it can be delicious, relaxing, and fun. Just make sure to consult a doctor before beginning any major changes to your regimen, and don’t forget those medical tests and flu shots,
especially for senior loved ones.
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