Coronavirus

Cruise Ship Held Off California Coast For Coronavirus Testing

​The Coast Guard dropped test kits onto the Grand Princess cruise ship after 35 passengers came down with flu-like symptoms.

Cruise Ship Held Off California Coast For Coronavirus Testing
Michele Smith / AP
SMS

A cruise ship with 3,500 people on board is being held off the shore of San Francisco after travelers from a previous voyage tested positive for the coronavirus.

The Coast Guard dropped test kits via helicopter onto the Grand Princess cruise ship on Thursday after 35 passengers came down with flu-like symptoms. Passengers can't leave the ship until after the results of the tests come back, which health authorities believe will happen Friday.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday after a man who'd traveled on the same cruise ship last month died from coronavirus, the state's first related fatality. Two other passengers have also contracted the virus and are currently hospitalized.

California health officials said there were 60 confirmed cases in the state as of Thursday morning local time. Johns Hopkins University reported more than 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the U.S. and 12 deaths as of Thursday evening.

Contains footage from CNN.