FACTS, NOT FEAR AT ASSEMBLY MEETING
Cruise industry leaders reassured the Juneau Assembly and an overflow crowd on Monday evening that there has never been a case of coronavirus on the cruise ship Westerdam, which is now making its way to Honolulu before heading to Juneau for a few weeks later this month.
Juneau, a port city with a lot of cruise ship traffic in the summer months, conducted a special meeting that checked all of the boxes for crisis management — they brought in the experts, they took questions on paper, not by allowing grandstanding in front of microphones, and they answered every concern that was brought up: How many crew will there be? (up to 700). Is there a medical doctor on board? (Yes, and nurses). Where will the ship put its trash? (In ports along the way, such as Hawaii and Vancouver).
Some in the community, including letter writers to the Juneau Empire, and on Facebook, have objected to the cruise ship docking in Juneau, pointing out that it had been turned away from ports in Asia, and that Juneau didn’t need the coronavirus infection coming from crew.
But, as industry leader Ralph Samuels explained to the Assembly, the only person ever believed to have the virus on board the Westerdam turned out to not have it at all. It was a case of a false positive test, which has been negated in subsequent tests.
All passengers on the ship headed home on commercial airlines, none has turned up with the virus, and the crew has been cleared as well, said the Holland America Line vice president of government and community relations. The ship will have been without passengers for more than a month when it gets to Juneau.
A mix of people from the community attended the presentation. Some of those showed concern about infection. Others were those who own businesses catering to the cruise trade, who are concerned about both the wellness of the community and an economic disaster brought on by panic-mongerers.
But it was a “facts, not fear” evening of rational information delivered by industry and health professionals. By the end of their presentation, most of the seven pages of questions that had been submitted to the Assembly were already answered. There weren’t that many left.
The cruise industry showed itself as knowledgeable, and the meeting structure itself prevented those with a penchant for screaming out emotionally based untruths from getting the stage.
Juneau City Manager Rorie Watt led off, saying he asked the Centers for Disease Control if the Westerdam was safe to allow into port. The CDC said yes, and Watt noted that if it is good enough for the CDC, it is good enough for him.
The one ship is truly Juneau’s smallest concern. For a town that routinely gets four to six cruise ships a day during high season, the national panic over the coronavirus could devastate the city’s revenue stream, which it factors into its budget each year.
The Assembly was supportive of Watt’s rational approach, and industry leaders such as Kirby Day and Mike Tibbles reiterated that all sectors are working together to prepare.
Tibbles, of Cruise Lines International Association, said it’s still unclear what will unfold for the season, as things are changing fast and the cruise season is weeks away. Some ships taken out of Asia waters are adding trips on the West Coast, he noted.
CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS
One thing all of the Alaska cruise-related businesses be now factoring: There will be a lot fewer elderly people coming to Alaska this year — the trend will be younger cruisers. And that means there will be a lot fewer T-shirts sold that say” “Nana went to Alaska and all I got was this T-shirt!”
But there may be a lot more beer poured at microbreweries and more adventure tours sold, although travelers will likely be looking for deep discounts this year.
You can tell any story to the Juneauites as long as you make sure the ship gets there from infected Honolulu and makes port of call in Juneau to spend money and buy from the tourist shops. Its like a rough Disneyland in the summer.
It’s hard being a conservative in a terminally liberal town (it is NOT a city).
This just doesn’t make it any easier to defend.
But I wish that things like this would not happen. Ever.
We need to import more conservatives and crack down on the insanity here.
Heads up, Suzanne,
The ‘Best Practices’ article written by REP. DELENA JOHNSON advises people to take actions which are contrary to actual best practices and could contribute to exposing vulnerable people to the virus, why don’t you take down that column?
Delena Johnson encourages people to hug their children as if that’s going to impart some kind of immunity when the truth is children are likely carriers who can and do infect others.
True, it’s a blessing children aren’t suffering debilitating symptoms, but the science shows they still get the virus and they still are a vector for spreading the virus to others,
Do the right thing and take the article down before it’s responsible for causing unnecessary tragedy.
nayem, these were the thoughts of a duly-elected lawmaker who is on the Legislative Council, the body that is defining the disaster plan for the Legislature. I won’t be taking down her comments, but I appreciate your concern. – sd
Being ‘duly elected’ doesn’t ordain of confer that those elected know more than the professionals and her recommendations will cause harm.
No immunologist or infectious disease professional would give such inappropriate advice.
You’re abetting that by not taking down misleading misinformation.
Make a call, ask the scientists if that isn’t bad advice.
Or, ignore it because you don’t care if it causes harm.
Nayem, That sounds like you aren’t a parent! Blame children, of course. You might not be that way in reality but you sound pretty cold and heartless in your comments.
I am a parent and a grandparent.
Read up on what to do and how to act in a global pandemic.
You might learn something.
One supposes the writer trundles about in its very own biohazard apparel and its home is replete with airlocks, negative pressure environments, armed security and the like?
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Authority figures and news broadcasters alike must swell with the pride that comes from knowing their hysteriovirus finally took root in a willing host.
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Yes, science shows the universe is made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons, and the occasional moron.
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Shocked about child vectors as much as we were shocked to find out our toaster doesn’t work under water…
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Forget corona virus test results, some folks are relieved when their IQ test results come back negative.
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Good news is one is never too old to learn something stupid.
How’s about a moose that poops ibuprofen when you lift it’s tail?
More young Alaska girls have been affected by the former Lt. Governor’s sexual proclivities than any infections passed by novel Coronavirus in Alaska. Nayem, if you want to comment and instruct the publisher of MRAK, at least show some class and donate $100 bucks. Quit being a cheap-ass.
Nayem
Quit with the sophomoric pedantry.
Thank you
You may or not know that the definition of pedantry is based on minor concerns.
If you think a global pandemic is a minor concern, you might want to review your own perceptions instead of challenging other’s.
Nayem, I didn’t read that article, so I have no idea what the author wrote. However, I think your first post is valid. You have concerns, and you have every right to be. As far as I know, right now no one in WHO or CDC truly understands this virus yet so it may be possible for kids to be carriers and spread this virus yet not have symptoms. I’ve read some new studies put out yesterday and today that says the virus can linger in the air for hours and travel as much as 15 feet away. And you’re right, we should try to use the current best practices we have until our doctors know more. CDC’s website doesn’t have anything about hugging kids (yet) but they recently added to their list of people who should stay at home as much as possible.
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