As states struggle to contain the outbreak, a cruise ship hit by the virus and held at sea for days is headed to the port of Oakland, California, where it’s expected to dock Monday, the captain told passengers.
At least 21 people aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship tested positive for coronavirus. Of those, 19 are crew members, authorities said.
The ship has been in limbo since Wednesday, when officials learned a California man who’d traveled to Mexico on the ship last month died of coronavirus.
In a message to the passengers, the capta said authorities have reached an agreement to bring the ship into the Port of Oakland. The arrival time Monday and the disembarkation process are being finalized by federal and state health authorities.
“Guests who require acute medical treatment and hospitalization will be transported to health care facilities in California. … If guests don’t require acute medical care following health screenings, California residents will go into a federally operated isolation facility within California for testing and isolation,” the captain announced.
Federal officials will transport those from other states to other facilities nationwide, the captain said.
There have been 449 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the US, including 70 people repatriated to the US.