355 cases confirmed on Diamond Princess cruise ship ! MS Westerdam stopped at Kaohsiung Port on the 4th

By / Scenic Spots Home Fresh, compiled report

The Diamond Princess, docked in Yokohama, Japan, has now recorded a total of 335 cases, with 12 new confirmed cases reported locally in Japan on the 15th. Many of the local cases in Japan have not recently traveled abroad, indicating that cluster infections have already occurred, raising concerns about travel safety in Japan (including Okinawa).

Concerns are not just about infection, but also extend to whether travelers can “enter the country safely,” whether they “need to quarantine upon returning home,” and whether “refunds are possible in case of problems.” These various disputes and worries have led many travelers to adopt a more conservative approach and avoid traveling abroad.

In addition to the impact on air travel, the cruise tourism industry has also been hit hard. At this time, no one dares to take the risk of cruising, mainly because cabins are mostly enclosed spaces, and air conditioning can easily facilitate internal air circulation, increasing the chance of infection.

The MS Westerdam, which ended its maritime drift and docked in Cambodia on February 13, departed from Hong Kong on February 1 and had stopped at Kaohsiung Port on February 4. It was originally scheduled to arrive in Japan on the 15th, but was turned away from multiple ports along the way. After 1,458 passengers (including 2 from Taiwan) disembarked on the 14th, it was reported that an 83-year-old American passenger tested positive for the virus while en route to Malaysia for a connecting flight.

The American woman is currently receiving treatment. There are also concerns about whether other passengers on the same ship were infected. Meanwhile, the woman’s husband tested negative and was immediately admitted for isolation.