Cruise Ship Quarantines - Coronavirus 2020

[MalcolmReynolds]

@bojack

That’s not an encouraging article, not as reported anyway. It seems unclear if the passengers just had their temps taken and were released, or if they’re being kept (for only six hours?) from disembarkation until a more complete test is finished.

I realize that 1 MD and 25 medical workers administered tests, but all tests were completed in 6 hours? Because with 1,738 passengers onboard that’s about 300 passengers per hour tested, tests read, results recorded and communicated, and off the ship they go. That’s not a lot of time.

If they only screened for symptoms (fever) and allowed them to disembark, then it seems Taiwan has tacitly agreed to expose the island to an elevated risk of infection. Even with the 14 day self quarantine in place, they all have to travel home. That’s fine, I guess. They’re all Taiwanese and this is their home, after all.

But assuming that risk (and that’s a big assumption right now) would also seem to increase the risk to everyone here, and would also seem to increase the risk that Taiwan will eventually be quarantined from international travel.

Another fine 差不多 job! Any one of those passengers can be infected and able to transmit the virus to others without exhibiting symptoms. They might not have outward symptoms now, but how about within the next 14 days? It is not possible for the medical team to have accurately tested all the ship passengers in that amount of time. A cursory glance, a few questions and take their temperature. Yep, 差不多!

And they’ve been released to travel home for voluntary home quarantine and self monitoring? Yeah, sure. It’s off to the nearest KTV or dance hall or whatever. Look at the couple who boarded a plane, flew to Kinmen and tried to board a ferry back to China. They were under the same required home quarantine and they didn’t give a shit.