Passengers On Cruise Ship Hit By Coronavirus Headed To Georgia

MARIETTA, GA — A total of 34 Georgians and other Americans aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship currently quarantined off the coast of California due to the new coronavirus will be transferred to an airbase in Marietta, Georgia, according to Gov. Brian Kemp.

"These passengers will undergo testing and be quarantined for possible exposure to COVID-19, Kemp said in a statement released on Sunday. "They are expected to arrive at Dobbins late Monday, March 9 or early Tuesday, March 10."

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The Dobbins Air Reserve Base is located at 1291 Cobb Parkway, which is some 20 miles northwest of Atlanta.

"I am confident that Dobbins is equipped to provide high-quality care for Americans in need while keeping Georgia families safe, and our state stands ready to assist our federal partners if requested," Kemp said in the statement. "In the days and weeks ahead, I encourage Georgians to pray for the patients affected by COVID-19 and their healthcare providers. We must continue to support one another, trust the advice of the medical community, and remain vigilant."

The Grand Princess cruise ship was barred from returning to San Francisco from a Feb. 21 voyage after it was learned that two passengers who traveled on the cruise last month to Mexico contracted the coronavirus.

However, on Saturday it was announced that the ship would dock in Oakland, California, on Monday and that guests who required immediate medical care would be sent to health care facilities in California.

The remaining guests of the 3,500 onboard will be screened and sent to government facilities where they'll be quarantined.

The cruise ship has more than 20 confirmed positive cases of the coronavirus among the thousands of passengers on board.

Globally, more than 107,000 people have been infected and over 3,650 people have died from the new coronavirus, Johns Hopkins reported Sunday morning. Of that total, more than 80,000 confirmed cases are in China, while the entire United States has 466 confirmed cases as of Sunday morning. Nineteen deaths in the U.S. have been tied to the virus outbreak.

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Prevent the Spread of Illness

According to the Georgia Department of Public Health, the best way to prevent infection with any respiratory virus is to use the same preventive strategies used during a normal cold and flu season:

• Get a flu shot every year.
• Wash hands with soap and water frequently.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes.
• Stay home when you are sick until the illness is gone.
• Cover coughs and sneezes, and wash hands afterward.
• Wipe down frequently touched surface, including cell phones, door knobs and light switches.
• Stay 5-6 feet away from others who are coughing or otherwise ill.