Coronavirius Cruising onto SLU Campus?

The Coronavirius outbreak has affected 80,000 people worldwide as of February 25. Coronaviruses are part of a large group of viruses that are commonly found in animals. 

The virus that is currently being spread is a new strain of the coronavirus, known as SARS-CoV-2. It was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. 

The virus can cause respiratory illness like the common cold or in serious cases, Severe Acute Respiratory Illness, or SARS. 

On February 1, a man aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the coronavirus nearly a week after he deboarded the ship in his native Hong Kong. A few days later the ship docked in Yokohama, Japan. 

The next morning, on February 4, ten people aboard the ship tested positive for the coronavirus. This led the Japanese Ministry of Health to place a two week quarantine of the entire boat. This took 72 hours to impose, leading to many passengers risking exposure to the virus.  The quarantine locked 3,711 guests and crew members on to the boat. 

Passengers on the Diamond Princess reported that during the quarantine they were given little information on what was occuring. 

“Passengers would count the number of ambulances lined on the pier to try and determine the severity of the outbreak,” The New York Times reported. 

“Meals were chaotic during the first few days of the quarantine, with breakfast not being brought to rooms until around 2p.m and then lunch soon after,”  passenger Masako Ishida told reporter Morgan McFall-Johnsen of Business Insider. 

As the situation escalated, crew members from India working on the cruise ship reached out to their government asking to be rescued. 

“There are a lot of people who don’t have coronavirus, so why are we all being confined here? Please save at least those of us who are healthy,” crew member Binay Kumar Sarkar told Business Insider. 

By the end of the 14 day quarantine, 691 people had tested positive for coronavirus, 42 of whom were American citizens. 

Four people have died as a result of the virus. Interesting to note is that more than half of those who tested positive, showed no symptoms of the virus. 

Many expressed criticism with the Japanese Ministry of Health’s decision to lock down the ship. “From a neurologist’s perspective, a cruise ship with a large number of persons on board is more an incubator for viruses rather than a good place for quarantine,” McGill University microbiologist Anne Gatignol told the Montreal Gazette. 

Now that the quarantine has ended there is concern that the virus will be spread onshore. On Wednesday February 25, Brazil’s Health Ministry reported the first case of coronavirus within the country, also making it the first case in South America. The virus has now reached every continent, except Antarctica, according to the Center for Disease Control.

As of February 26, no St. Lawrence University student has been reported as having the coronavirus, said Vice-President and Dean of Student Life Hagi Bradley in an email to university students and faculty. Bradley writes, “The health and safety of our students is our top concern, and we are monitoring updates from state, federal, and international health organizations daily. 

The risk to our campus community at this point is minimal; however, this could change quickly if the number of reported cases in the United States continues to rise.” 

Also Bradley explained that, “The Center for International and Intercultural Studies is in contact with directors of St. Lawrence University off-campus programs as well as the directors of our partner programs and is strongly advising students not to travel to northern Italy. 

All of our off-campus programs are currently open and operating, and we will continue to carefully assess the situation in each off-campus location.”All students who experience flu-like symptoms should contact the Health Center. In the case of off hours, students should contact Safety and Security. 

Precautionary measures such as careful handwashing, avoiding contact with sick people, not going out if you are sick, and general hygiene will go a long way in helping to protect against the coronavirus. 

“We will continue to provide updates as needed to our community to ensure that you have the information and resources you need to stay healthy and safe.  Please do not hesitate the Campus Health Center at any time with questions or concerns.”