Jamestown woman among passengers quarantined on cruise ship

Donna Barrett knows firsthand what it's like to deal with the coronavirus scare.
Barrett, of Jamestown, and her sister, Brenda Cunningham, are aboard the cruise ship Grand Princess which was put into quarantine at sea after 21 people tested positive for the virus.
In an exclusive interview with the Blade-Empire, Barrett spoke about her ordeal. As of Tuesday morning, March 10, she is still aboard the cruise ship.
They boarded the ship in San Francisco on February 21. "We were supposed to stop in Ensenada, Mexico," Barrett said. "But we received a letter on Wednesday, March 4, that we would head straight to San Francisco because of COVID-19 cases connected to the Grand Princess."
There are 2,400 passengers aboard the cruise ship, and almost 1,100 staff and crew. According to an Associated Press (AP) report, the passengers and crew hail from 54 countries, including about 240 passengers from Canada.
While initial information aboard the cruise ship was limited, Barrett and her sister wisely decided to self-quarantine themselves in their room.
"My sister and I decided we would just stay in our room, so we have not left our stateroom since last Wednesday (March 4). We were officially told to stay in our rooms on Thursday, March 5."
The cruise ship was held at sea, off the coast of California, for almost a week while preparations were made on land to handle the thousands of passengers and crew.
"We are lucky because we have a fairly big room with an outside balcony," Barrett said. "They deliver food and water to our door. Overall I think they (the crew) have been good."
On Monday, March 9, the cruise ship was allowed to dock at the Port of Oakland. According to the AP, the site was chosen because of its proximity to an airport and military base.
Dr. John Redd of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was quoted as saying: "We're making every effort to get them off the ship as safely and as quickly as possible."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom assured the public that none of the Grand Princess passengers would be exposed to the public before the completion of a quarantine.
The AP reported that American passengers aboard the ship will be transported to military bases in California, Georgia, and Texas for an additional 14-day quarantine.
Neither Barrett or her sister have any symptoms of the virus. "We don't know yet where we're going," Barrett said. "We did receive an email from the KDHE and we may get to be quarantined at our homes, but probably will be in Federal quarantine in Texas or Georgia. Thankfully, my sister and I are good friends and continue to be," Barrett added with a laugh. "We have been watching lots of movies and catching up on our sleep."
Barrett's spirits remain high, but she is tiring on the ordeal. "Really miss my family, and it's hard to think we may have 14 more days before seeing them!"