Diamond Princess Cruise Evacuees to Be Released from COVID-19 Quarantine

March 3, 2020 - San Antonio

By Jade Esteban Estrada - Writer, San Antonio Sentinel

Tuesday morning, the City of San Antonio announced that more than 120 evacuees from the Diamond Princess cruise ship will be released from quarantine today in an orderly way to minimize potential exposure of the COVID-19 virus to the San Antonio community.  After pausing the scheduled release yesterday at the City’s request, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has modified its release protocol and provided a detailed departure plan; only individuals who have been symptom-free for the full 14-day quarantine period will be released. 

“As mayor of this city, my foremost concern is preventing the spread of the coronavirus to the local community,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “I’m pleased that the CDC has made changes, and I’m comfortable that the plan as presented will minimize the risk of exposure. The release will be coordinated, not prolonged over several days, and passengers will not stay in local hotels and will go directly to the airport.” 

Several buses will transport passengers from Lackland Air Force Base directly to the airport in shifts that correspond with their flight times. Upon arrival, each group will be met by airport representatives, who will take them directly to the ticket counters, assist with baggage and facilitate movement through security. 

Some Texas residents have requested rental cars to drive home. These individuals will be transported on the same buses from Lackland, and rental cars will be arranged at the airport. 

“This is the type of expedited and coordinated departure we needed from our federal partners,” continued Nirenberg. “The community can continue to feel confident that the necessary steps are being taken to protect all of us from this virus, and there has not been a case of the community transmission. I want to express our gratitude for the evacuees’ patience as we worked to ensure the utmost safety for everyone involved.” 

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Additionally, in light of what occured with the patient who was released over the weekend, the CDC has notified the City that it has modified its protocol in two ways: 

Firstly, a previously symptomatic quarantine individual will only be released if that person has two sequential negative tests within 24 hours. Secondly, no person will be released if there are any pending results. 

“The risk to the general public remains low. I want to remind the community that these are individuals who showed no symptoms over the course of the 14-day quarantine. We owe it to our fellow Americans not to stigmatize them and allow them to go back to their homes and families,” said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger. 

FURTHER READING: Lackland AFB Selected as Coronavirus Quarantine Site

Passengers who developed symptoms during the quarantine and tested positive for COVID-19 remain in isolation and are not being released today. These individuals must remain in isolation until free from symptoms and have two negative tests within 24 hours apart to meet the criteria for release. 

At this time, CDC believes that symptoms of COVID-19 may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. 

Jade Esteban Estrada covers public health issues for the San Antonio Sentinel. He is also a contributor to The Associated Press. He can be reached at jade@sasentinel.com.