The Texas Governor's office confirms passengers on board the Grand Princess cruise ship could soon be headed to Lackland Air Force Base for quarantine. The governor's office issued the following statement:
"Governor Abbott has spoken with Vice President Pence regarding the repatriation of American citizens, including approximately 90 Texans, to Lackland Air Force Base from the Grand Princess Cruise ship off the coast of California. These passengers will not be released into the general public. All of the repatriated citizens will remain at Lackland under quarantine until they clear the revised and heightened testing protocol to ensure they are not affected by the COVID-19 virus. Once cleared, Texans will be released to return home while non-Texans will be safely transported to their home state using the same public safety protocol used for the Diamond Princess passengers who were previously quarantined at Lackland.”
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg confirmed the Governor's announcement. Nirenberg said in a statement, "Last night we received word that the federal government has opted to quarantine evacuees from the Grand Princess cruise ship at Lackland AFB. We've been assured that all of the evacuees arriving at Lackland are without symptoms. We've also been informed that a significant number of the evacuees are Texas residents. The Vice President has confirmed to Governor Abbott that every evacuee would be testged upon their arrival to Lackland. We are working with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and have asked to keep the federal operation on federal ground with federal resources."
Princess Cruises announced early today that state and local officials have cleared the Grand Princess to dock in Oakland on Monday. 21 of the 3,500 people on board the ship have tested positive for the coronavirus. A cruise line spokesperson said guests who require "acute medical treatment and hospitalization" will be the first to leave.
Photo: The Princess Cruises Grand Princess cruise ship sits off the coast of San Francisco as it takes on supplies on March 07, 2020 in San Francisco, California. (Getty Images)
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