Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2004. Mattie was about two years old and that day we had a snowfall. Naturally being Washington, DC, everything came to a stand still. No school or work for example. Of course the snow did not stop Mattie. He was intrigued and wanted to be outside and playing in it. I remember those days, going outside and hating the cold, but playing along so Mattie could explore and experience winter.
Quote of the day: Want to know where the word quarantine came from? Keep reading.......................Ships have been targets for disease control for centuries. In fact, the combination of horrifying illness and ships gives us the modern word “quarantine.” When the Black Death terrorized Europe in the 14th century, the Venetian trading colony Ragusa didn’t close itself off entirely. Instead, in 1377, the city passed new laws for visiting ships. If they came from places where the plague was spreading, they were required to stay anchored offshore for a month to prove that they weren’t carrying it. Eventually, the period was extended to 40 days and called a quarantino from the Italian word for 40. ~ Nicole Wetsman
As of now, the Diamond Princess remains the second largest place, outside of China, for the Coronavirus. In fact, 20% of passengers (over 600 passengers) contracted the virus. Experts are now saying that the ship facilitated the virus' transmission, particularly within its ventilation system. Under such a crisis, it is natural to want to blame everyone and everything. Some people are saying that Princess Cruises handled the quarantine poorly as crew members freely traveled around the ship and dispersed food trays to passengers at their cabin doors (three times a day). Exposing the crew to the virus around the ship and then of course the crew passing it along to passengers. Frankly I do not know how Princess could have managed this any better, especially when considering that passengers were not allowed off the ship. Passengers were allowed off only if they tested positive and needed hospitalization. In International waters, Princess has to comply with the Country in question.
If you go to the Princess website, you will see a posting of advisories for passengers from the last week. I read that Princess Cruises CEO, Jan Swartz was in Japan with a team of people. She provided updates to passengers by video and I even included a video below of her personally waving and greeting disembarking passengers. I read on-line that there was a lot of criticism for her decision to be present, as many viewed it as a PR opportunity or a way for the company to save its reputation. I am not sure I view it the same way, as this CEO is under great pressure and clearly she could have worried about her own safety first and NEVER left the USA. But like a captain of a ship, she was there while the Diamond Princess was sinking not from water but from the Coronavirus.
I have always been intrigued by the stories aboard ships and perhaps because we are frequent Princess cruisers, I have immense sympathy and compassion for those on board. The worry, fear, and stressful living conditions had to be traumatizing. I have heard that the crew will remain in quarantine. Passengers have been reimbursed for this entire cruise and been given a certificate for a free cruise in the future. The crew continue to receive pay while quarantined and once they are cleared, will be granted their vacation time. Part of me wonders.... will any of these individuals ever go on another cruise ship again?
Advisories received on board:
https://www.princess.com/news/notices_and_advisories/notices/diamond-princess-update.html
Princess Cruises | Diamond Princess | Update No. 2 from President Jan Swartz:
President Jan Swartz Greets Diamond Princess | Princess Cruises: (This video has received both criticism and praise! You decide!)
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