Prognosis
Stranded on Virus-Hit Ships, Passengers Play with Balloons
- Japan reports 10 additional cases at sea, bringing total to 20
- Quarantine comes amid cruise industry’s peak booking period
Health workers prepare to move passengers from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, in Yokohama.
Photographer: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images
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After a 15-day cruise that took them to ports in Japan, Hong Kong and Vietnam, Kent Frasure and his wife were looking forward to another week of travel in Japan. But instead of leaving the ship as planned in Yokohama on Tuesday, they were held for screenings after health officials wearing masks boarded the ship to check for coronavirus.
Then on Wednesday morning, passengers were told by loudspeaker to stay in their cabins. Their ship, Carnival Corp.’s Diamond Princess, would be quarantined for two weeks.