Daily US Times, California: A virus-hit cruise liner in California has begun disembarking after being kept off the coast of San Francisco for five days. Nineteen crew members and two passengers on the Grand Princess have tested positive for Covid-19.
The ship has been carrying 3,500 people from 54 countries, has docked in Oakland.
The US has reported more than 607 coronavirus cases with 24 deaths. President Donald Trump said it had “blindsided” the world.
At least 34 states of the US reported coronavirus cases.
Some US politicians are self-isolating after coming into contact with an individual who has tested positive.
The coronavirus death toll worldwide crossed 4,000 mark with the infections worldwide is more than 111,000.
The Grand Princess became the center of the authorities’ attention when a previous voyager on the vessel died last week after being stricken by the coronavirus.
The patient was a 71-year-old person who had an underlying health condition. The patient had been on a round trip from San Francisco to Mexico in February.
Authorities said the evacuation of the passengers from the Grand Princess will be completed on Tuesday.
The passengers who required urgent medical care are being taken to hospital first. The US residents who do not need treatment will be moved to military bases in Texas, California, and Georgia for a 14-day isolation period.
Several hundred foreign passengers, including 140 Britons, will be repatriated to their home countries.
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