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CORONAVIRUS has left more than 140 Brits stranded on a cruise ship near California, with 21 people onboard testing positive for the virus. Understandably, holidaymakers due to go on a cruise
are worried - but is it safe to go amid the rising death toll? WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE GRAND PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP? The Grand Princess, which is carrying 3,533 people, was due to dock in
San Francisco on Wednesday. The ship was held off coast while 45 people were tested for coronavirus, and nearly half tested positive. American vice president Mike Pence said: “those that
will need to be quarantined will be quarantined. Those who will require medical help will receive it.” Little detail has been given regarding where quarentined and infected passengers will
be taken, and some passengers have comaplined that the only updates they have been given have come from online news. This news comes after three former passengers from a previous voyage on
one of the company’s other ships tested positive, with one dying earlier this week in California. READ MORE- CRUISE: PORTS CLOSE TO CRUISES AMID CORONAVIRUS PANIC WHAT IS THE CLIA DOING TO
PROTECT CRUISE SHIPS FROM CORONAVIRUS? The CLIA website says members are required to deny boarding to people who have travelled from, visited or transited via airports in South Korea, Iran,
China including Hong Kong and Macau, and the areas of Italy that are on lockdown. CLIA members must also conduct sreenings for people who have visited, travelled from or transited via
airports on the list of countries provided by the US CDC, read the list here. They are also denying boarding to those who have had contact with or cared for anyone suspected or diagnosed
with coronavirus, as well as people who are being monitored for possible exposure. There will be pre-boarding screening to make sure all of these precautions are in place, and additional
screening and medical support will be actioned if passengers or crew show symptoms. DON'T MISS CORONAVIRUS PATIENT DESCRIBES TERRIFYING ORDEAL OF HAVING KILLER BUG [INSIGHT]
CORONAVIRUS: WILL THE OUTBREAK END IN WARMER WEATHER? [INFORMER] DUBAI WARNING: IS UAE SAFE AMID CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK? [INFORMER] SHOULD I GO ON A CRUISE DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK?
Health and safety measures have been stepped up and will be adapted if needed, so you should be fine to go. If you have a preexisting condition that you have claimed on your insurance, you
may be able to get a refund. Since travel insurance doesn’t cover ‘change of mind’ due to worry, many people who are booked on cruises are waiting until nearer the time in hope that it will
be 100 percent safe to go. Some cruise companies- Viking River Cruises, Norwegian, and Seabourn to name a few- are allowing customers to delay their trips, cancel within days of trips, or
swapping one passenger for someone else. Check with your cruise company, as policies vary.