Government charters plane to evacuate Canadians from quarantined cruise ship
Posted February 15, 2020 7:15 pm.
Last Updated February 16, 2020 2:11 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The federal government has chartered a plane to repatriate Canadians quarantined aboard a cruise ship docked near Yokohama, Japan.
Passengers on board, including more than 250 Canadians, were quarantined on Feb. 4 after people on on the Diamond Princess tested positive for COVID-19.
In a news release, federal officials say this decision has been made because of the extraordinary circumstances faced by passengers and to lighten the burden on the Japanese health-care system.
It says the government is working closely with Carnival Cruise Lines and the Government of Japan to assist in this evacuation.
Update #DiamondPrincess
Government of Canada is evacuating Canadians on board Diamond Princess cruise ship.
Here is the news release: pic.twitter.com/pSHlcIZR1I
— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) (@FP_Champagne) February 16, 2020
The aircraft will bring passengers from Japan to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, after which they will be assessed and transported to the NAV Canada Training Institute in Cornwall, Ontario, to undergo a further 14-day period of quarantine.
Before boarding in Japan, passengers will be screened for symptoms.
Those who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19 will not be permitted to board and will instead be transferred to the Japanese health system to receive appropriate care.
