Gatineau couple on quarantined coronavirus cruise ship

A month-long cruise in Asia has turned into a nightmare for Diane and Bernard Mnard, a retired couple from Gatineau, Que.

Their vessel, Diamond Princess, is under quarantinesouthwest of Tokyo for two weeks after positive cases of coronavirus were confirmed on board.

"I'm tired. I feel stuck. Trapped,"said Diane Mnard, in a French interview with Radio-Canada's Les matins d'ici. "We want to get off the boat, before we get infected, too."

The couple was due to return home on Tuesday.

By the end of the day Wednesday20 people had tested positive, including two Canadians. The sick passengers were taken to hospital on Wednesday morning.

"We cannot go out. They bring us food. We just open the door. They're all wearing masks and gloves and leave right away."

"I have diabetes, so I need medication," said Diane Mnard. "And because I expected to be at home already, tomorrowis the last day that I have enough. I've been trying for three days to get more but I haven't had any response, so far."

The couple has been attempting to contact the ship's medical staff by sliding notes under the cabin door.

"Japanese officials have been on board for two days.They've been taking everyone's temperatures. And those people who have fevers, they've taken blood samples to analyze. That's how they found the first 10 cases. Today, they told us they found another 10. We've heard that one of those cases is a staff member," said Diane Mnard.

Nearly 3,700 passengers and crew including 251 Canadiansare confined to the ship near the port of Yokohama.

The couple have been in contact with their daughter,Chantal Mnard, who also spoke to Radio-Canada.

"Theydon't have any symptoms at this moment, but they're afraid of becoming infectedbecause of the close quarters on board," said Chantal Mnard in a French-language interview.

The coronavirus, which attacks the respiratory system, has killed 563 people in China since the new strain of the virus was confirmed about a month ago.

In a statement, cruise operator Princess Cruises said medical staff on board the ship are well-equipped to prevent and contain the spread of contagious illnesses, including the coronavirus.

Precautions staff are taking include isolating guests and crew members who show signs of illness and thoroughly cleaning the ship using disinfectant, the statement said.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says the risk in Canada from coronavirus is low. There have been five confirmed cases here, three in Ontario and two in British Columbia.

• Airlift arrives in Wuhan to repatriate 211 Canadians
• China opens new hospitals for coronavirus patients, deaths top 560

The viruscan have more serious consequences in people with weaker immune systems, such as the elderly, and there's no vaccine.

"My mother said to me, 'Chantal, I am 75 years old.If it stops here, it stops here. I would have had a good life,'" their daughter said.

"It's come to that."

"It's very stressful," said DianeMnard. "The captain talks to us once a day. Today, he said they will let the people in the interior cabins go out on the deck for some air. But they must wear masks, and only in small groups at any one time. It's going to take 4 to 5 days before all the people get out for air. We have a window, but we'd like to get [on deck]too, but it's going to take a lot of time."

"[My parents] would like to be sent home even if it means being quarantined," said ChantalMnard.

A Hong Kong official says people on board another cruise ship that was turned away from a Taiwanese port will be quarantined until they are checked for the new virus.

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