01 Investigation
Written by: Li Yinglin, Liang Zu, Rao, Zheng Jiaru, Chen Xinxi
2021-01-22 07:05
The last update date: 2021-01-22 07:05
The luxury cruise ship "Diamond Princess" carrying more than 3,700 people suffered an outbreak of new crown pneumonia a year ago, killing 13 people including two Hong Kong residents.
"Hong Kong 01" reorganized the time sequence and found that the cruise management personnel had delayed response for the first few days, laying the groundwork for the outbreak, and 567 passengers and 145 crew members were infected.
The reporter further discovered that after the cruise ship began maritime quarantine, the number of confirmed cases did not drop but increased. Among the first 20 confirmed crew members, as many as 15 worked in the crew canteen; as the crew members were not separated like passengers, they were likely to work with each other. Spread the virus and even infect other passengers.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01", a crew member confirmed that they had to work in different locations on the cruise ship during the quarantine period and suspected that the crew canteen was the source of the spread of drugs.
He also revealed that the ship doctor misunderstood the lethality of the virus and told the crew before the outbreak that there was no need to worry too much about being recruited.
[The third anniversary of the anti-epidemic series]
A series of reports on the first anniversary of the Diamond Princess:
Anti-epidemic for a year·Diamond Princess｜The key to reorganization on the 5th day revealed that the company’s late response caused the epidemic to get out of control
Anti-epidemic for a year, Diamond Princess | Revealing that the sea quarantine failure crew continued to work as a canteen into a hotbed
Anti-epidemic for a year·Diamond Princess | Two Hong Kong people killed by epidemic ship Kong Fanyi: Should be quarantined in the morning
(Hong Kong 01 drawing)
▼Pictures of the first five days after the reorganization of the Diamond Princess became infected ▼
After the quarantine at sea, the epidemic expands and many people in the crew canteen are recruited
According to the Daily Epidemic Report of the World Health Organization, there were 10 confirmed cases of new crown pneumonia on the "Diamond Princess" on February 5. The Japanese government ordered the cruise ship to begin maritime quarantine on the 14th day. All passengers and crew members are prohibited from disembarking from the ship. Stay in the room for isolation most of the time.
However, one week later (on the 12th), the number of confirmed cases increased sharply to 175.
Why are there still so many people diagnosed after the quarantine?
One of the channels of transmission is the thousands of crew members on board.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a research report in March 2020 stating that three crew members of the cruise ship had a fever on February 3, but on February 9 after the start of the maritime quarantine, the number of fever crew members increased to 31, indicating that the virus was spreading among crew members. .
The report also analyzed that out of the 20 confirmed crew members on February 9, 15 were working in the crew canteen and were responsible for preparing meals for other crew members.
In addition, 16 of the 20 people also live on the third floor where the catering crew dormitory is located.
The report believes that in the crew quarters and catering departments on the third floor, the virus has obviously spread, and it may be spread by droplets or contact.
▼Respondents provided online pictures on board and passengers at the time▼
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Passengers stay in the room to isolate the crew and continue to work, take their body temperature daily
Simon (pseudonym), an Indian chef working in the passenger restaurant of the "Diamond Princess", recalled in an interview with "Hong Kong 01" via SMS that the crew canteen has been operating before and after the quarantine period, providing buffets for the crew, and the crew will queue up to pick them up Food, and this contact has not stopped. "Even after we started to quarantine, we were only asked to sit one meter apart when eating."
Simon said that for a few days after the cruise ship berthed in Yokohama, the kitchen staff had to work as usual. However, because the passengers stayed in the room for isolation, the restaurant's orders were changed to takeaways and sent directly to the passengers' rooms. He said that gloves were always worn at work, but the masks were removed from isolation. From the next day, the boss will distribute them so that they can wear them at work the next day.
He also revealed that because the crew has to continue to work, they are not kept in a room for isolation like passengers, and there is no special monitoring. "You have to check the fever every day. If you have a fever, you need to notify the doctor. If you have mild symptoms such as headache, runny nose, They also have to go back to the house for isolation, and other crew members will leave meals at the door."
Riki Gonzales, the crew member in charge of the music performance, received a video interview with "Hong Kong 01" earlier.
He suspected that the crew members were probably infected in the crew canteen. "Many crew members ate there. The process after isolation is the same as before. It was only about a week later that we were asked to keep our distance in the canteen."
(Hong Kong 01 visit screen)
Crew: The cafeteria did not require social distancing at first
Riki Gonzales, the crew member in charge of the music performance, received a video interview with "Hong Kong 01" earlier.
He suspected that the crew members were probably infected in the crew canteen. "Many crew members ate there. The process after isolation is the same as before. It was only about a week later that we were asked to keep our distance in the canteen."
Riki said that after the maritime quarantine began, the crew still had to contact passengers from time to time.
He took the performance crew as an example. After all the shows were cancelled, 25 to 30 performance crew members were assigned to patrol the corridors on different floors to ensure that the passengers stayed in the room, and they were sometimes responsible for distributing drugs to the passengers.
He also revealed that as early as mid-January, the ship doctor on the cruise ship attended the party of the performance group. "I asked him what he thought about the virus. He said at the time that only the elderly and chronically ill patients were at higher risk. I told us that we don’t need to worry too much.” Riki said that these words made him think that cruise ships would not be affected by the epidemic, but the reality is completely the opposite.
Kentaro Iwata, a professor of Infectious Diseases at Kobe University School of Medicine, posted a short video on Youtube, saying that even he was afraid of the situation on board.
(Youtube video)
Japanese epidemiologists severely criticize the quarantine loopholes on the ship
However, in addition to ship doctors who may have neglected the epidemic, there are Japanese health officials.
Since the cruise ship’s maritime quarantine on February 5, the number of confirmed cases has continued to increase, and has even increased at a rate of tens of people per day.
At that time, the Japanese government sent a large number of quarantine personnel aboard the ship to test the passengers and take the confirmed cases away. Among them, at least two medical staff were infected.
Kentaro Iwata, a Japanese epidemiologist and professor of medicine at Kobe University who had gone to China and Africa to investigate SARS and Ebola on the spot, went on board for inspection on February 18.
He later disclosed on the Internet that there were many loopholes in the ship's quarantine, including the lack of clear separation of safe and contaminated areas, the crew and medical staff without protective clothing, and the eating with gloves.
Iwata, who was on board the ship as a member of the disaster-dispatched medical team, originally needed to help prevent the epidemic, but was driven off the ship by Japanese officials.
"I am very afraid of getting infected because I don't know where the virus is." In a short selfie, Iwata described the chaos on the ship, and the situation was more severe than the SARS and Ebola viruses he had personally experienced back then.
Iwata's short film caused great repercussions in Japan and abroad, but he later deleted the short film and said he apologized to the troubled people.
Kong Fanyi believes that one of the key factors of the outbreak is that the crew members ate in the same place. "Even if they wear masks at work, they will remove them when eating. At this time, the infected crew members will transmit the virus to other people, and they will Further spread the virus to passengers."
(Photo by Hong Yeming)
Kong Fanyi: Crew intensive meal causes subsequent infection
In the "Diamond Princess" epidemic, the Japanese government's decision to order marine quarantine for the entire ship has been controversial. When Iwata Kentaro was interviewed by the "AFP", he described marine quarantine as the "biggest mistake", and he thought it was very likely. As a result, secondary infections occurred on the ship.
Kong Fanyi, director of the Department of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Hong Kong, also has similar views.
In an interview with "Hong Kong 01", he quoted research saying that after the implementation of the quarantine, passengers stayed in the room for a long time and only went to the deck for a short time each day. Although the chance of cross-infection was reduced, "the chance of infection could not be reduced to zero, because There are crews delivering food to passengers."
Kong Fanyi believes that one of the key factors of the outbreak is that the crew members ate in the same place. "Even if they wear masks at work, they will remove them when eating. At this time, the infected crew members will transmit the virus to other people, and they will Further spread the virus to passengers."
"You will find that many governments have despised the epidemic at first. Authorities such as the World Health Organization did not recommend that people wear masks at first." Kong Fanyi bluntly said that the new crown virus is a new disease, and people without symptoms can spread the virus, so the initial response was insufficient. It is understandable at the time," and analyzed that the "Diamond Princess" epidemic will bring many changes to the cruise quarantine in the future (see separate draft).
Hong Kong passenger Mr. Chen was infected on the "Diamond Princess" and stayed in a doctor in Japan for a full month before he recovered and returned to Hong Kong to be reunited with his wife and son.
"It is easier to catch colds than before. After returning to Hong Kong, I have caught colds twice and have seen the doctor twice."
(Photo by Liang Zurao)
▼Pictures of the recovered Chen Sheng on the cruise ship and hospital▼
Hong Kong passengers escaped from the dead and lamented the people in front of them
The new crown pneumonia epidemic that has swept the world has caused more than 96 million infections as of January 21, 2021, with more than 2 million deaths.
On the "Diamond Princess", the virus killed 13 people, including two Hong Kong residents.
A desirable sea holiday, some people did not return after boarding the ship, and some people passed by with death.
"When I came back from Japan, the lung film was still a bit flowery." Hong Kong passenger Mr. Chen was infected on the "Diamond Princess" and stayed in Japan for a full month before recovering and returning to Hong Kong to reunite with his wife and son.
"I have caught colds more easily than before. After returning to Hong Kong, I have caught a cold twice and have seen the doctor twice." After being diagnosed on the ship, he was taken off the ship. Mr. Chen was forced to separate from his wife. He is now paying special attention to his health.
Ms. Huang, a Hong Kong resident, said that she and her family witnessed the lethality of the epidemic on the Diamond Princess. Although she was healthy, she had lingering fears. "Really cherish the people in front of you."
(Photo by Liang Zurao)
"I never thought it would be so serious at the time. I never thought that so many people would be recruited." Another Hong Kong resident, Miss Huang, said that she and her family witnessed the lethality of the epidemic on the "Diamond Princess". Although she was healthy, she had lingering fears. A male passenger stuck his throat for a long time, and his son gave up everything to go to Japan to accompany him." The epidemic situation was ruthless but aroused family affection. "I really want to cherish the person in front of you," Miss Huang sighed.
Anti-epidemic for a year·Diamond Princess｜The key to reorganization on the 5th day revealed that the company’s late response caused the epidemic to get out of control
Anti-epidemic for a year·Diamond Princess | Two Hong Kong people killed by epidemic ship Kong Fanyi: Should be quarantined in the morning
[Diamond Princess] Hong Kong residents stayed in a hospital in Japan for a month, but after returning home, they are still not afraid to travel on a cruise
[Wuhan Pneumonia] Uncle Wu is diagnosed for the first time in response to the Diamond Princess’s allegations of spreading poison: it may not be my business
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