Canadian passengers who were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan arrived at an isolated facility at the NAV CENTRE in Cornwall on Friday morning to begin their two-week precautionary quarantine.mm
The passengers, who were quarantined aboard the cruise ship for nearly two weeks in the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak in China, flew out of Tokyo on Thursday and arrived at CFB Trenton in the early hours of Friday morning. The repatriated Canadians were monitored and assessed for symptoms before leaving Japan as well as during their flight to Canada. They were assessed once again upon their arrival in Trenton. Any individual who developed fever, cough or difficulty breathing en route was not sent to the Cornwall NAV CENTRE. Passengers were assessed again upon arrival at the NAV CENTRE, and one person who felt unwell is being tested as a precaution.

Repatriation at NAV CENTRE

Repatriation efforts are being led by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), and supported by multiple agencies including the provincial Emergency Medical Assistance Team, the Canadian Red Cross, the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Canadian Armed Forces and others. These agencies are providing support with activities such as receiving and processing passengers, directing passengers to appropriate accommodation, coordinating logistics, meals, and ensuring appropriate infection control procedures are in place. Communications teams are working to provide regular updates to stakeholders, NAV CENTRE employees, the public and quarantined guests.

During the quarantine, repatriated Canadians will be restricted to the secure area and will continue to undergo daily health checks by medical staff onsite. The individuals will have all their meals and supplies delivered to their rooms by the Canadian Red Cross. They will have regular opportunities to go outdoors to a secure area inaccessible to the public. When outdoors, they will be required to remain two metres from other individuals and wear a mask and gloves.

If any individual demonstrates signs of COVID-19 during the quarantine, they will be assessed and if medically necessary, transferred to a hospital following all necessary infection prevention protocols.
“Everyone in contact with the quarantined individuals within the secure area is following strict infection prevention and control protocols,” states Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, Medical Officer of Health at the EOHU. “These protocols will protect the safety of the community, individuals in quarantine, as well as those who are assisting them, while ensuring the care, dignity and respect of the repatriated Canadians.”

“This has not been an easy process for our community but we now need to move from a place of frustration to a place of hard work and collaboration to make sure that all goes as well as possible,” says Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement. “The repatriated Canadians have been through an extraordinarily difficult time and our hope is that they feel relieved and uplifted to be back home on Canadian soil. Our hearts are with them. Welcome to Cornwall.”

For more information on the COVID-19 coronavirus, visit www.Canada.ca/coronavirus or call the Public Health Agency of Canada’s coronavirus information line at 1-833-784-4397. Information can also be found at www.Ontario.ca/coronavirus or www.EOHU.ca.