Thought of the Day - May 11 - Thank You, People of the Diamond Princess

When passengers boarded the Diamond Princess in Yokohama on January 20th they were looking forward to a two-week dream cruise. However as the cruise was nearing its end, a passenger, who has disembarked in Hong Kong on January 25th, tested positive. The Diamond Princess, her 2,666 passengers, and 1,045 crew, were quarantined on the ship as she returned to port in Japan in early February. The captain was the last to depart - on March 1st. Since then 712 cases were reported along with 13 deaths. Indeed, months later there are four people from the ship still listed as in serious condition.

This story made headlines around the world in February and so did the novel coronavirus. It also made the headlines in Canada. The public-at-large awoke. Authorities and experts were asked questions, and politicians were forced into the spotlight. The time for advanced planning had come to an end and finally moved into action; public commitments had to be made.

A case could easily be made that the story of the people of the Diamond Princess actually prevented more cases and lives lost in Canada during our first wave than the ship incurred. I think we owe them a debt of gratitude.

Cheers

Cliff