Cruise ship outbreak Sheriff for passenger transport "There is only basic thoroughness"

One year before the outbreak of the new coronavirus on the cruise ship "Diamond Princess", a sheriff of the Yokohama Maritime Security Department, who was transporting infected passengers at sea, interviewed NHK. I responded.

Looking back on the situation where there was little information about the new corona, he said, "I think the only way to deal with the virus is to thoroughly implement basic infection control measures."

Captain Ozawa of the Yokohama Maritime Security Department patrol boat "Hamakaze" took 10 passengers from the ship who were confirmed to be infected by the quarantine conducted at "Diamond Princess" anchored off the coast of Yokohama Port last February. When I took it down and carried it to a medical institution, I was in charge of transporting three of them at sea with my own patrol boat.

In an interview with NHK one year before the outbreak, Captain Ozawa said, "I never thought I would transport it on my own ship. I thought about how to transport it and how to protect it. At that time, there was little information about the new Corona, so I looked back on the situation where I was forced to respond.

We equipped as much equipment as possible with reference to the response to the new influenza and the nuclear accident, and isolated the space for the patient in the patrol boat at the suggestion of a colleague.

Also, the communication with my colleagues was done by writing with a notebook.

A total of eight coast guard officers were involved in the transportation, but none of them were infected, and he said, "I was relieved to think that the treatment of the patients at that time was correct." It was.

On the other hand, while the spread of the new corona infection has not stopped, regarding the situation surrounding so-called "essential workers" such as medical professionals, "There is still unprovoked slander against those who work without regard for their own danger. Is not pleasant. "

Regarding the future, "I didn't expect the spread of the new corona to continue at that time. Although the situation is changing, such as the appearance of mutated viruses, basic protective measures can be taken at that time. I would like to respond with a strong will as much as possible. No matter where the activity is, I think that there is no choice but to thoroughly implement basic infection countermeasures such as not being crowded, wearing a mask firmly, and disinfecting. "

Background of outbreak

[20/01/20]

The cruise ship "Diamond Princess" departing from and arriving in Japan departed from Yokohama Port on January 20, last year.

[20/02/03]

Then, after

visiting

Hong Kong and Taiwan, I entered Yokohama Port on February 3rd last year.

Since it was confirmed that a male passenger living in Hong Kong was infected with the new coronavirus, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare decided to quarantine more than 3,700 passengers and crew on board, and the ship dropped offshore and went offshore. I stayed at.

[20/02/05]

And on the morning of February 5, it was decided to transport 10 people who were confirmed to be infected by inspection to a medical institution for the first time, and two patrol boats of the Yokohama Coast Guard will be responsible for the movement at sea. I did.

[20/02/06]

After that, passengers and crew members had to wait in the guest rooms for 14 days in principle, and the ship berthed at Daikoku

Pier

on February 6th and started berthing.

However, the berth far exceeds the initial outlook.

The infection spread on board, and each time the patient was taken off the ship and transported to a medical institution, a total of 712 passengers and crew were confirmed to be infected.

[20/03/01] The

crew members who remained until the end disembarked on March 1, about a month later, and the "Diamond Princess" left Daikoku

Pier

on March 25, just over three weeks later. was.

[20/05/16]

After finishing maintenance and disinfection, I left Yokohama Port on May 16 and headed for Malaysia.

Aiming to resume operations in July

The "Diamond Princess" is a cruise ship to and from Japan, but it has not been able to resume operations after the outbreak last year.

According to the operating company, we are currently preparing for infection prevention measures on board with the aim of resuming this in July.

Specifically, in order to avoid congestion and congestion during boarding procedures, we will prepare an application to enter health status and passport information and ask customers to enter in advance, and a doctor who is familiar with infectious disease control will be stationed on the ship. We would like to make sure that we are ready to be inspected for the new corona on board.

"Princess Cruises," the operating company, commented, "We will strive to create an environment on board with thorough safety measures, such as measures to avoid three-cs and expanding non-contact services so that our customers can feel at ease." I will.