Canadian real estate agent among thousands stuck on coronavirus cruise ship

Passengers face two-week quarantine in port of Yokohama

Kim Hamaura Phillips (inset) and the Diamond Princess cruise ship (Credit: Facebook and Getty Images)
Kim Hamaura Phillips (inset) and the Diamond Princess cruise ship (Credit: Facebook and Getty Images)

A Canadian real estate agent has been describing her experience as a passenger on the Diamond Princess, a 2,500-passenger cruise ship that has been quarantined in a Japanese port following the discovery of coronavirus on board.

Kim Hamaura Phillips is an agent based in British Columbia, Inman reported. She leads a RE/MAX Treeland franchise in the city of Langley in the Vancouver metropolitan area and is one of the passengers caught up in the two-week lockdown.

“Helicopter coming to drop off medical supplies and meds for individuals who have requested it,” Phillips wrote in private Facebook posts obtained by the publication. “Also they are taking more saliva samples… not a good sign!”

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While cabin fever and depression have reportedly become widespread on the ship, Phillips appears to be staying positive with the help of tai chi, sudoku, and watching the Academy Awards on television.

At least 135 passengers on the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus, giving the ship the largest concentration of coronavirus cases outside of China. The cruise ship terminal in Yokohama, where the ship is docked, has been closed to the public. Twenty Americans are among those infected. [Inman] — Kevin Sun

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