A Brief History
No, we do do not live in the Dark Ages, but yes, thousands of people are stuck at sea, trapped in ships, with no way out. The reason? Coronavirus. This epidemic has not only strangled people in China; it is also releasing its wrath on those who have been traveling through the seas. Cruise ships are idling at coastlines, but the passengers aboard are unable to exit. They are being quarantined.
Digging Deeper
Although the people on these ships are being provided with basic necessities, such as food, water and toilet paper, it is uncertain whether other important essentials such chux pads for elderly patients, shampoo, and other hygiene products are being sent.
The Diamond Princess, a hulking cruise ship carrying over 3,500 passengers, reached Yokohama, a city in Japan, nearly a week ago, but it has not made much of a difference to the folks on board, since they are being constrained in the ship; disembarking has been made impossible.
Disembarking has been made impossible since a previous passenger of Diamond Princess tested positive for Novel Coronavirus, and the government in Yokohama does not want to take any chances. Especially since, as of now, at least 20 of the people currently on the ship have tested positive for this disease. These people were immediately transferred to healthcare facilities.
The people on the World Dream cruise ship are experiencing what can easily turn into a nightmare. Like the Diamond Princess, this ship has over 3,500 people on board, but this one’s not in Japan; it is presently docked at the Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong.
More than 6,000 people are quarantined midwater on the Costa Smeralda, after Italian politicians discovered that two Chinese passengers were on board the ship, and may or may not be carrying Novel Coronavirus.
These people thought they were going on a wonderful vacation, and a wonderful vacation it was, until Coronavirus reared its ugly head and struck. Coronavirus. Such simple symptoms, yet possibly fatal end results. A sneeze here, a cough there. Sinus infection, one may think, but no; life is not always so simple, and sometimes, even a cough can be a symptom of a deadly sickness.
In our days, everything has been flipped around and turned upside down. A sneeze can point to a fatal disease, and a fabulous vacation can be the harbinger of a horrible living nightmare. You never know what can happen.
The good news is, things are not always negative; the same way these days you are watching fun times turn bad, some day, you will watch the negative transform into a positive happening, because such is life; everything passes!
Question for students (and subscribers): Who would have dreamed that people would be stuck at sea in the 21st century? It just goes to show that even impossibilities can happen in this wonderful world we live in. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Morrison, Tyler J. Wuhan Coronavirus: A Concise & Rational Guide to the 2020 Outbreak. Midnight Grasshopper Books, 2020.
The featured image in this article, a photograph by Barrylb of Diamond Princess docked in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, has been released by the copyright holder of this work into the public domain worldwide.