California Governor Gavin Newsom said more closures will be implemented in other parts of the state to prevent Covid-19 from spreading.
The local authorities of California, United States, began ordering the closure of schools and public spaces to try to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The Grand Princess cruise, affected by the new coronavirus and headed to the port of Oakland, California, will remain in international waters for at least one more day while authorities develop plans to transport passengers to federal facilities in different parts of the United States.
The largest school district in the north of the state canceled classes for one week for its nearly 64,000 students after it was discovered that a family in the district was exposed to Covid-19 disease.
Governor Gavin Newsom warned that more closures will likely be implemented in other parts of the state due to the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, he was preparing for the arrival of the cruise, with more than 3,500 people aboard from 54 countries.
The ship’s captain, John Smith, commented to those that “after docking, we will begin a landing process specified by federal authorities that will take several days,” according to a recording provided by the passenger Laurie Miller of San Jose.
Ship passengers needing medical attention or being hospitalized will go to health facilities in California, while state residents who do not require a doctor “will be sent to a facility operated by the federal government in California to be checked and placed in isolation, ”the California Government Office of Emergency Services reported in a statement issued on Sunday.
“The crew will be quarantined and serviced on the ship, but, above all, the cruise will only stay in the port of Oakland for the duration of the landing,” the statement said, adding that the cruise with the quarantined crew will dock elsewhere.
Smith said the information they provided does not include what will happen to passengers from other countries. The California authorities did not disclose those details.
Some Americans will be transferred to military bases in California, Texas, and Georgia to be screened for Covid-19 disease and placed in a 14-day quarantine. At the moment it was not clear when the groups will arrive.
US Vice President Mike Pence announced that at least 21 people aboard the ship, including 19 crew members, have tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The number of deaths from the virus in the United States was 21, of which all but three died in the state of Washington. The number of infected people increased to more than 400, scattered throughout the country.
