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A Story From Inside the Coronavirus’ Early Whirlwinds What It’s Like to Get Coronavirus on a Cruise Ship
(about 11 hours later)
I’m not sure when it came. I’m not exactly sure of the time or date or precise location in which the virus entered my body. I don’t know how long it was there or when exactly my body started to fight it. All I know is that 67 days after my wife and I packed our bags and left Utah for vacation, I found myself in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, at a port in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 3; that six days later I’d come down with an intense fever and extreme nausea; and that on Valentine’s Day I would test positive for the new coronavirus.I’m not sure when it came. I’m not exactly sure of the time or date or precise location in which the virus entered my body. I don’t know how long it was there or when exactly my body started to fight it. All I know is that 67 days after my wife and I packed our bags and left Utah for vacation, I found myself in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, at a port in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 3; that six days later I’d come down with an intense fever and extreme nausea; and that on Valentine’s Day I would test positive for the new coronavirus.
When we came aboard the cruise, we had already completed the first two months of a vacation that we had dreamed of for several years to celebrate our retirement. Singapore, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia had already been checked off the list. Boarding the Diamond Princess on Jan. 6, we were looking forward to the next leg of the trip: A monthlong cruise followed by four months of exploring Thailand, then traveling to Australia, then hitting another cruise from Sydney to Hawaii.When we came aboard the cruise, we had already completed the first two months of a vacation that we had dreamed of for several years to celebrate our retirement. Singapore, Cambodia and other parts of Southeast Asia had already been checked off the list. Boarding the Diamond Princess on Jan. 6, we were looking forward to the next leg of the trip: A monthlong cruise followed by four months of exploring Thailand, then traveling to Australia, then hitting another cruise from Sydney to Hawaii.
My wife and I had heard of the coronavirus by the time we boarded the ship — from the news and other passengers — but there weren’t any major travel warnings or bans at the time for any of our destinations.My wife and I had heard of the coronavirus by the time we boarded the ship — from the news and other passengers — but there weren’t any major travel warnings or bans at the time for any of our destinations.
As scheduled, we were set to disembark the cruise in Japan on Feb. 4. And ship life on that night before was cheerful and festive; everyone aboard was making plans to return home or go off on other adventures. We were busy meeting with new friends we had met aboard, exchanging phone numbers and email addresses, hoping to stay in contact and offering the usual goodbye hugs and well wishes.As scheduled, we were set to disembark the cruise in Japan on Feb. 4. And ship life on that night before was cheerful and festive; everyone aboard was making plans to return home or go off on other adventures. We were busy meeting with new friends we had met aboard, exchanging phone numbers and email addresses, hoping to stay in contact and offering the usual goodbye hugs and well wishes.
My wife and I returned to our cabin, packed our luggage and laid down to watch the evening news.My wife and I returned to our cabin, packed our luggage and laid down to watch the evening news.
Over a loudspeaker, the captain announced that some other passengers had tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and that to protect all of us, we would need to stay in our cabins for at least two weeks. We had no fear or trepidation over being quarantined necessarily. My main thought at that time was regretting not having purchased a cabin with a window or a balcony. Two weeks lost out of the six months of time off we had planned didn’t seem so bad.Over a loudspeaker, the captain announced that some other passengers had tested positive for Covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, and that to protect all of us, we would need to stay in our cabins for at least two weeks. We had no fear or trepidation over being quarantined necessarily. My main thought at that time was regretting not having purchased a cabin with a window or a balcony. Two weeks lost out of the six months of time off we had planned didn’t seem so bad.
But we did worry then, like many people do now, about what it would mean for us if we began to cough or sneeze, or feel off in any way.But we did worry then, like many people do now, about what it would mean for us if we began to cough or sneeze, or feel off in any way.
Ship stewards, wearing face masks, delivered a digital thermometer to each passenger on the second day of quarantine. Every cabin was given face masks. The captain explained over the loudspeaker that we were to take our temperature every four hours. Almost like a new toy, we played along and each time my temperature was normal I’d proudly display it to my wife.Ship stewards, wearing face masks, delivered a digital thermometer to each passenger on the second day of quarantine. Every cabin was given face masks. The captain explained over the loudspeaker that we were to take our temperature every four hours. Almost like a new toy, we played along and each time my temperature was normal I’d proudly display it to my wife.
On the fifth day of quarantine, late in the evening on Feb. 9, I developed a headache and fever. I continued to monitor my temperature, hoping that at any hour the fever would stabilize and retreat. But it rose. And when I reached a temperature of 104 degrees, we became concerned. My wife took care of me, placing wet towels and washcloths on my head and body. And I took cold showers in an effort to lower my body temperature — but no luck.On the fifth day of quarantine, late in the evening on Feb. 9, I developed a headache and fever. I continued to monitor my temperature, hoping that at any hour the fever would stabilize and retreat. But it rose. And when I reached a temperature of 104 degrees, we became concerned. My wife took care of me, placing wet towels and washcloths on my head and body. And I took cold showers in an effort to lower my body temperature — but no luck.
By this point, tired and scared, we called the ships medical team for help. To my surprise, they never mentioned anything about the coronavirus. Then they asked if this was a medical emergency. I asked them if a 104-degree fever was a medical emergency. After a short pause, they informed me that they would place me on the list. No explanation was given for what exactly this list was or how long it would take for medical staff to come.By this point, tired and scared, we called the ships medical team for help. To my surprise, they never mentioned anything about the coronavirus. Then they asked if this was a medical emergency. I asked them if a 104-degree fever was a medical emergency. After a short pause, they informed me that they would place me on the list. No explanation was given for what exactly this list was or how long it would take for medical staff to come.
We didn’t hear back that night. My sleep was fitful that evening, between the fever, headache and nausea. My normally healthy body, which is in pretty good shape for 63 years, started to deteriorate — I felt weak and overheated.We didn’t hear back that night. My sleep was fitful that evening, between the fever, headache and nausea. My normally healthy body, which is in pretty good shape for 63 years, started to deteriorate — I felt weak and overheated.
Almost 24 hours after we called about my high fever, a man and a woman arrived in full protective gear — in plastic face shields (reminiscent of those worn by riot police), in plastic gowns that stretched head-to-toe that were taped at the wrist to medical gloves — not one part of their body exposed. When they came into the cabin like that, I figured something serious must be going on. Still, relieved that we finally seemed to be getting some help, I calmly explained my symptoms.Almost 24 hours after we called about my high fever, a man and a woman arrived in full protective gear — in plastic face shields (reminiscent of those worn by riot police), in plastic gowns that stretched head-to-toe that were taped at the wrist to medical gloves — not one part of their body exposed. When they came into the cabin like that, I figured something serious must be going on. Still, relieved that we finally seemed to be getting some help, I calmly explained my symptoms.
Despite the doctor’s very broken English, I was able to understand that he was asking how high my temperature was, and then through my equally broken Japanese we tried to tell him. I asked if anything could be done to lower my fever; the doctor did not seem to understand my question. Then, suddenly, he left. At no time during his visit did the doctor mention anything about the health of my wife or her exposure to me.Despite the doctor’s very broken English, I was able to understand that he was asking how high my temperature was, and then through my equally broken Japanese we tried to tell him. I asked if anything could be done to lower my fever; the doctor did not seem to understand my question. Then, suddenly, he left. At no time during his visit did the doctor mention anything about the health of my wife or her exposure to me.
My wife tried to get me to eat something, which was impossible, but she searched in her luggage and found a couple of Tylenol tablets, which helped to lower my fever for a short time. Yet it came roaring back. Another long night of cold showers turned into another day of lost appetite, headache and nausea.My wife tried to get me to eat something, which was impossible, but she searched in her luggage and found a couple of Tylenol tablets, which helped to lower my fever for a short time. Yet it came roaring back. Another long night of cold showers turned into another day of lost appetite, headache and nausea.
Each morning, the captain would make announcements over the loudspeaker, informing us of general announcements but always ending with a number of how many passengers had tested positive and would therefore be removed from the ship, which was docked in a port in Yokohama, then be taken to a hospital. We really started to wonder how bad things might get when we heard the number 60.Each morning, the captain would make announcements over the loudspeaker, informing us of general announcements but always ending with a number of how many passengers had tested positive and would therefore be removed from the ship, which was docked in a port in Yokohama, then be taken to a hospital. We really started to wonder how bad things might get when we heard the number 60.
It was surreal watching the reports on TV, seeing our ship on the news all over the world. One time, mid-announcement, the captain actually said, “I know you probably already heard this on the news.”It was surreal watching the reports on TV, seeing our ship on the news all over the world. One time, mid-announcement, the captain actually said, “I know you probably already heard this on the news.”
The fear of the unknown can be frightening. I had all the symptoms of the new coronavirus that I was reading and hearing about — with the exception of a constant cough. But we couldn’t communicate with the medical help available.The fear of the unknown can be frightening. I had all the symptoms of the new coronavirus that I was reading and hearing about — with the exception of a constant cough. But we couldn’t communicate with the medical help available.
On the 13th, I woke up in a complete sweat, my sheets completely soaked. The fever had broken, my nausea was gone, my temperature was close to normal. I was able to eat breakfast. Then, funny enough, the phone rang in our room and it was the medical team explaining that they were going to take me to a hospital in Yokohoma, Chiba University Hospital. I tried to explain to them that I was feeling much better. The man on the phone said he would get back to me.On the 13th, I woke up in a complete sweat, my sheets completely soaked. The fever had broken, my nausea was gone, my temperature was close to normal. I was able to eat breakfast. Then, funny enough, the phone rang in our room and it was the medical team explaining that they were going to take me to a hospital in Yokohoma, Chiba University Hospital. I tried to explain to them that I was feeling much better. The man on the phone said he would get back to me.
By the time I got out of the shower, there was a knock on the door, and two men dressed in full-body protective gear — those same face shields and medical gowns and all — were there to escort me off the ship. Without objection from the medical team watching and waiting for me, I hugged and kissed my wife. Then I was led down the ship corridor to a waiting ambulance.By the time I got out of the shower, there was a knock on the door, and two men dressed in full-body protective gear — those same face shields and medical gowns and all — were there to escort me off the ship. Without objection from the medical team watching and waiting for me, I hugged and kissed my wife. Then I was led down the ship corridor to a waiting ambulance.
Once at the hospital, I was placed in isolation, tested for the virus and told to wait for the results. Twenty-four hours later, I was informed by my doctor, who spoke great English, that I had tested positive for the virus.Once at the hospital, I was placed in isolation, tested for the virus and told to wait for the results. Twenty-four hours later, I was informed by my doctor, who spoke great English, that I had tested positive for the virus.
I was shocked because I no longer felt any symptoms. I stayed in the hospital in Yokohama, quarantined for 14 days, only leaving to get a C.T. scan, which confirmed that the virus had given me pneumonia: “It’s what the virus does,” the doctor told me.I was shocked because I no longer felt any symptoms. I stayed in the hospital in Yokohama, quarantined for 14 days, only leaving to get a C.T. scan, which confirmed that the virus had given me pneumonia: “It’s what the virus does,” the doctor told me.
I asked other questions. But then I stopped asking them because every answer I got was, “We don’t know;” including to the question “How long am I going to be here?” In the meantime, my wife — along with the many other Americans on the Diamond Princess who didn’t seem to be exhibiting symptoms — was flown on a chartered flight by the United States government to Travis Air Force Base in California.I asked other questions. But then I stopped asking them because every answer I got was, “We don’t know;” including to the question “How long am I going to be here?” In the meantime, my wife — along with the many other Americans on the Diamond Princess who didn’t seem to be exhibiting symptoms — was flown on a chartered flight by the United States government to Travis Air Force Base in California.
On exactly the fourteenth day of my quarantine, the six tests for the virus the hospital staff had used came back negative. The U.S. embassy told me afterward that the Center for Diseases and Control and Prevention required two negative test results in a row, spaced 24 hours apart. I was tested again and the following day received the news that, thankfully, I had tested negative again; presumably, the coronavirus was gone from my body. Soon after that, I was told — in an email from the C.D.C. — that I had been removed from the No Fly List and could return home, without restrictions.On exactly the fourteenth day of my quarantine, the six tests for the virus the hospital staff had used came back negative. The U.S. embassy told me afterward that the Center for Diseases and Control and Prevention required two negative test results in a row, spaced 24 hours apart. I was tested again and the following day received the news that, thankfully, I had tested negative again; presumably, the coronavirus was gone from my body. Soon after that, I was told — in an email from the C.D.C. — that I had been removed from the No Fly List and could return home, without restrictions.
I’m back in Utah now with my wife. But we have older parents who live about a mile away from us, so I am still self-quarantined just to be safe. It’s clear that some people are especially at-risk, particularly the elderly or infirm; and that any of us could get unlucky and contract a case more severe than mine. But take this from someone who contracted it and survived: If you’re healthy, it probably won’t be so bad. The chances are your body will fight back and win.I’m back in Utah now with my wife. But we have older parents who live about a mile away from us, so I am still self-quarantined just to be safe. It’s clear that some people are especially at-risk, particularly the elderly or infirm; and that any of us could get unlucky and contract a case more severe than mine. But take this from someone who contracted it and survived: If you’re healthy, it probably won’t be so bad. The chances are your body will fight back and win.
John Haering is a resident of Tooele, Utah.John Haering is a resident of Tooele, Utah.
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