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Non-infected Americans from cruise ship in Yokohama to be taken back to U.S.

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This is good news. Being quarantined in a facility that is equipped for that purpose may prevent the virus from spreading to all the passengers. Should have been done sooner, but we are learning as we go. It has never happened quite like this before.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

A CDC team is on the ground in Japan to assess the health of the passengers.

At least Japan has no problem with letting CDC in.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

We thank you the Wonderful people of Japan and the Government of Japan for your concerns about our health and wellbeing.Japanese are very hospitable and humble people. We Thank you again.

As far as the Government of the USA was concerned, it was a matter of time and they did it and the rest of the world will follow.

It’s a human tragedy and we all are concerned and will face it as a one Family.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

I hope some countries take their people back regardless of infection.

On one hand, they block people from the area regardless of infection, on the other hand, they are urging Japan to release the people on the cruise.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Too slow and too late for some.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Pretty easy for the US to evacuate its citizens from a country in which they have 50,000 occupying troops.

Yes, and they have a few bases in the area. They don't seem to have problem with quarantine in base, so they should have offered it to start with.

After better late than never.

Good for the people on board. Hope people which want/need to go on land can asap.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

@Second, all the bases in Japan are joint SDF/American bases. In other words, they would need the Japanese government's permission.

Wrong, while the base is joint use no permission is required by the Japan government IAW SOFA 2015 latest revision which hasn't changed. The use of the land use is strictly up to the US on how to use the land and all parameters. Cooperatively speaking though and as courtesy it is discussed for practical alliance purposes only, but again the US does not need the GOJ to tell them how or what they can or not do on the installation within the legal terms of the host nation.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

The total number of infections in Japan grew to 262, including the 218 on the Diamond Princess.

And in other news, 67 more people on the Diamond Princess were confirmed today to have the virus, bringing the ship's total to 285 and pushing the total number cases in Japan (along with all those other new ones) to 338.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Remember it takes two weeks befoire you know that your are sick and have any symptoms. But you can spread this virus from day one. Then there also many other illnesses things that give you the similar symptoms early on. So there will be a certain amount of fear before this is over and we might have to wait until early summer before we have a vaccine. So our job as people is not to give in to panic and make it worse than need be. I say this as an old man who could be a likely victim of this virus due to age and health issues. Panic could be far more dangerous than the virus, for causing irrational acts by frightened people.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I assume that if other countries wish to evacuate their 'non-infected" citizens from the HMS Petri Dish Japan will facilitate this as well.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Is this evacuation mandatory for the US citizens on the Diamond Princess?

They can sit in a tin can, breathing recycled air, with 190 other passengers in extreme proximity for the 10 hour flight back to the US; then restart another 14 days of quarantine on a military base. Alternatively, finish quarantine on the luxury liner and be free as a bird, possibly as soon as next Wednesday. Hmmmmm.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Why does not the US evacuate infected Americans? There are 428 Americans in all. It abandons them? There are better quarantine facilities and hospitals there.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The handling of this ship situation by Japan is absolutely not acceptable.

Such a boat can dock in an adequate place with an adequate quarantine camp with adequate medical support.

A complete shame for such a so-called highly developed nation.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

This virus is temporary and it will pass, Japan is safe that I promise.

And what qualifies you to make this promise?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Well this is supposed to be the way it works to an extent. All passengers on board should be tested before release. Trumps administration may have sent a plane to retrieve uninfected US citizens (what about those who test positive?), but I want to know if US military personnel (from the medical field) can provide Japan with humanitarian medical support/assistance as well. If they're not being allowed to by either Japan or Trump's administration it is a severe failure of maintaining very good diplomatic relations. This can be considered a natural disaster of sorts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Yes, and they have a few bases in the area. They don't seem to have problem with quarantine in base, so they should have offered it to start with.

Please read the article:

American evacuees will likely arrive first at Travis Air Force Base in California, where they will undergo additional health screenings.

Some may remain at Travis, where they will face a mandatory quarantine of up to 14 days, while others may be moved to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for quarantine.

Second, all the bases in Japan are joint SDF/American bases. In other words, they would need the Japanese government's permission.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

kwattToday said (at 10:47 pm JST)

Why does not the US evacuate infected Americans? There are 428 Americans in all. It abandons them? There are better quarantine facilities and hospitals there.

I would imagine that whoever is involved in the evacuation flight would not want to mix infected and uninfected people on the same flight. Then, instead of having 48 infected people, they could very well have 428 infected people.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Both Japan and the USA are doing a good job.

Japan is coping without any mess more than 3000 people from the distance, and USA is taking back with the needed means thrir citizens.

Hope the rest of passengers will mentally go trhough a few more days.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

This is pretense at doing something. The quarantine is slated to end within 72 hours of the departure of these 2 flights. Then they are slated to be quarantined for another fortnight. A penny wise, but pound foolish move. We have Airforce MAC flights sitting idle in Japan. But they waited for the cheapest charter to be available.

G Lawson

LCDR MC USN

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Bottom line these 2 people have a suite room. So yeah they likely feel different about this than most everyone else.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

darknuts,

You miss my point. This medical emergency must be dealt with cooperatively among nations. It's a serious international issue per se. 

Another cruise ship, The Westerdam, that reportedly carried a novel coronavirus disease patient, was refused entry to port by countries such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, etc., except for Indonesia. If all countries refused entry of the vessel into their port, what would become of it?

There must be ssome international agreement to address this grave situation.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not every American onboard the cruise ship is happy about this.

"A passenger aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is currently quarantined off the coast of Japan amid a coronavirus outbreak, is speaking out against the United States’ plan to evacuate American passengers."

https://www.foxnews.com/health/quarantined-diamond-princess-passenger-speaks-out-against-us-coronavirus-evacuation-plan

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And in other news, 70 more people on the Diamond Princess were confirmed today (Sunday) to have the virus, bringing the ship's total to 355 and pushing the total number cases in Japan to 408.

Oh yeah, and on that other cruise ship that couldn't find a port, yet supposedly had no virus on board, well after it finally docked in Cambodia two days ago, one of the US passengers got off and flew to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which is where she was indeed confirmed to having the virus.... Curious to see how Cambodia handles the other passengers that are now flooding their country and/or flying home (as well as many other passengers that haven't gotten off the boat yet).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

They will then get charged the flight tickets back, as dtate department rules require those evacuates to pay back the government the costs of evacuation.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

In my opinion, Japan has handled the COVID-19 virus very responsibly. But, they have not communicated very well and left themselves open to criticism. This is a crisis in the making. The right actions can mitigate if not stop it. Let's keep the pressure on for the government to do this right. And, at the same time everyone in Japan needs to take personal actions to reduce their risk of catching or spreading the virus. I think I'll go wash my hands and face...

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

3,700 people are too many for Japan to take good care of them. Why did not the US evacuate its citizens earlier? Other nations better do same thing for their citizens. It seems Japan can take good care of its citizens and less number of foreigners.

Most of 3,700 people are Japanese nationals.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Please read the article

Thanks, I read it. I am talking about using the US base in Yokohama area at the beginning of the mess. Not them moving them there after.

Second, all the bases in Japan are joint SDF/American bases. In other words, they would need the Japanese government's permission.

Are you claiming that Japanese government would have refused if the US offered to get out of the boat a few 100 people and quarantine them ? Perhaps you should be a bit more trustful of Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

bedsheets that have not been changed for days

Exactly how often do people change their sheets at home? Certainly not daily.

There's a big difference in being quarantined on a ship and quarantined in 2 story military housing or TLQ housing with handlers using 100% correct procedures. Having outside walkways and a balcony for each apartment simply feels better. There's only so much that a staff, also quarantined, on a ship can accomplish with those tiny 200 sqft rooms. The smallest apartment would be 3-5x that size in the US.

As for the cost of the flight, that's what travel insurance is for. All that I've seen/bought include medically necessary evacuation, usually up to US$50,000. That's enough for a helicopter mountain rescue and commercial flight back to the US from anywhere.

The downside will probably be worse internet. ;(

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The most absurd behaviour comes from the feeling that if you are contaminated you die.

So far the estimation is 2% mortality and mostly old males with already existing health issues.

Just take deep breath and calm down with that.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

This has been mishandled from the beginning. They never followed the CDC protocol and probably their own protocols. I am glad finally US is taking matter into their own hands

what about rest of the people who are not Americans? Are they going to wait until more people get infected each day to do something

the rate of infection is going up. What is your plan or are you going to let people continue to get infected and get worse

your own citizens are here What is your plan ?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

This is pretense at doing something. The quarantine is slated to end within 72 hours of the departure of these 2 flights. Then they are slated to be quarantined for another fortnight. A penny wise, but pound foolish move. We have Airforce MAC flights sitting idle in Japan. But they waited for the cheapest charter to be available.

Do tell Sir. I'm pro U.S. military but Japan took the lead on this and rightfully so. If you think this is a "pretense at doing something" did you try to kick it up the chain of command?

BTW, thanks for your service Lieutenant Commander.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

If an infection from the novel coronavirus ever occurred in a cruise ship, passengers as well as crew members must be disembarked from the ship and quarantined at state-of-the-art medical facilities on land. But all of them were confined to the marooned ship without any tailor-made medical facilities. So there's no doubt that the cruise ship itself has become an incubator for the virus.

I find it strange, though, that only U.S. citizens should be given preferential treatment and taken to the U.S. for quarantine.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I find it strange, though, that only U.S. citizens should be given preferential treatment and taken to the U.S. for quarantine.

Why do you find that strange? Literally every other country has done the same.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Trump might of waived that by exec order

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

This was a action by our congress,but they will be billed by government

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

The US Congress put pressure to bring these American home, Trump has not said one thing reasonable, about this disease, but how it affect his chances

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Trump gets a lot of critics from the extreme left. But he is handling this crisis well, rescuing hundreds of US Citizens - many of them extremely old - back to mainland USA within days. Well done. Other nations will try and copy the lead of the USA.

-3 ( +15 / -18 )

All of them will probably be infected, this a bad decision to put these healthy people with sick people

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Wrong, while the base is joint use no permission is required by the Japan government IAW SOFA 2015 latest revision which hasn't changed. The use of the land use is strictly up to the US on how to use the land and all parameters.

Completely false. The US can't even build new facilities on the base without the Japanese governments permission. The bases are not US territory that we can do with as we please. Much less quarantine possibly infected people in an area where Japanese citizens are working.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

3,700 people are too many for Japan to take good care of them. Why did not the US evacuate its citizens earlier? Other nations better do same thing for their citizens. It seems Japan can take good care of its citizens and less number of foreigners.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

The numbers of infected Japanese are low on mainland Japan. The cruise ship is a sad story but it's been mainly focused on this one ship that's quarantined.

This virus is temporary and it will pass, Japan is safe that I promise.

Do not allow fear mongering, bias and racism which is spreading to many Western countries not only against Chinese, but all Asian people are seen as a potential carrier and discrimination is happening worldwide. Let's work together with China to contain and find a vaccine for this virus. Japan will benefit in many ways by working closer with China on this issue.... It's a sad event, but an opportunity as well for our countries to be closer, to improve relations, to move away from the pass, successful 2020 Olympics.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

While more research is needed to fully understand the virus. The CDC has focused on surveillance to track cases and containment strategies to slow possible progression of the virus in the United States. Slowing progression gives more time for researchers to work on developing and testing a vaccine and antiviral drugs for this novel coronavirus. Currently, there is no known cure for the virus. Which brings to question why was China even messing around with such a deadly dangerous virus in the first place?

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Pretty easy for the US to evacuate its citizens from a country in which they have 50,000 occupying troops.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

The US waited as long as it could cuz they were hoping that Japan, the 3rd biggest economy on this planet, could handle the situation as any advanced civilization could. Apparently, whatever Japan did subpar so the US is taking the matter into it's own hand.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Readers, no Japan-bashing please.

great to see this president taking care of his own

I thought the day would never come

memories of fukushima, and our wonderful ambassador

-17 ( +8 / -25 )

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