Helicopters Approach Quarantined Grand Princess off the Coast of California

Helicopters delivered coronavirus test kits to a cruise ship off the California shore on Thursday, March 5. The ship was quarantined off the coast after it was confirmed a previous passenger died from the virus.

California National Guard delivered the test kits on Thursday morning to the ship carrying an estimated 3,500 people.

A Californian man who had been the ship’s previous voyage to Mexico died from coronavirus and had underlying health conditions, according to CNN.

Princess Cruises said passengers who had been on that voyage and those with influenza-like symptoms on the current voyage to Hawaii would be tested.

Cruise passenger Jim Lange shot video of one of the helicopters arriving.

“As frustrating as it is, Princess has done an outstanding job in a difficult situation,” Lange told Storyful.

“Captain is updating the ship every three or four hours. He includes the timing of the testing in progress, safety/prevention requirements and efforts, the detailed plan of cabin isolation, meals etc. Obviously, there are many unknowns but trying to prevent any surprises.”

The Centre for Disease Control reported 99 cases of coronavirus in 13 states across the United States on March 5. Credit: Jim Lange via Storyful