CFB Trenton to quarantine Canadian evacuees from Grand Princess

There are 237 Canadians aboard the Grand Princess, which has been struck with the Covid-19 virus. Canadians without symptoms will be flown to Canadian Forces Base Trenton for quarantine after the ship docks in California.

By Sarah Cooke

BELLEVILLE – Canadian Forces Base Trenton will be the quarantine site for Canadians evacuated from the Grand Princess cruise ship, which has been stuck off the coast of California following an outbreak of COVID-19. 

Global Affairs Canada issued a news release Sunday that Canadians from the ship who aren’t exhibiting any symptoms of the virus will be airlifted from the San Francisco area, where the ship was to dock Monday, to CFB Trenton. 

The passengers will be quarantined for 14 days upon their return to the country at the Trenton base.

The base previously served as a quarantine area for Canadians evacuated from the Chinese city Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak.

The Grand Princess has been stuck off the coast of California since last Wednesday and so far 21 people have tested positive for the virus – 19 crew members and two passengers. 

There are 3,500 passengers, 237 of them Canadian citizens. 

People will be screened before boarding the plane, according to the Global Affairs Canada news release. Those who exhibit symptoms will not be allowed on board and will be further assessed to determine what their next steps will be. 

On Feb. 19, federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu praised the Trenton base for its quarantine efforts with evacuees from China. 

Hajdu and federal Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne be providing an update Monday at 11:15 a.m.