Noro Virus Runs Rampant

Whenever a large number of people board a ship, they take precausions against spreading germs by serving everyone in the buffet and generally taking extra precaution. They did this after we left Singapore. Then the cruise director started reminding people to use the hand sanitizer and wash our hands for 20 seconds in warm water. Then they started closing more things. Apparently the GI illness came onboard with family of the crew in Singapore then quickly spread to the passengers. They started asking anyone with symptoms to please report to the infirmary. The Capt and the cruise director started saying to wash your hands. Anything that was touched by more than one person was removed like salt and pepper shakers. The library was closed as was the book swap shelf. There were no longer magazines out to look at. Then it was code red and even the self laundry facilities were closed. 

We all received a card in our stateroom saying if we even had a hint of a symptom, please go to the infirmary, there would be no charge for the visit or the meds. Then the Capt said if anyone is self isolating rather than going to the infirmary, to please go. Today the Capt sounded almost frantic and frustrated beyond anything I've heard before. He came onto the speakers in every cabin. Most announcements are only in public spaces and corridors so as not to disturbed people in their cabins. He said there had been no let up in the number of cases, that if it continues we may have to all debark so they can fumigate the ship. He said it could cause us to miss ports. He pleaded with everyone to please go to the infirmary if you have any symptoms, that if you take a shore excursion you are possibly infecting everyone on the bus. Or if you take a cab, the next fares could be infected. He pleaded with everyone to not be selfish and report to the infirmary. It was quite an announcement. The librarian was instructed to destroy all the books that passengers have turned in for trade. Every crew member is working overtime sanitizing everything. Practically every time we enter our cabin the handle is wet from being sanitized. While we are eating dinner the tables that are already empty are being sanitized, the entire chairs. I have seen them wiping down the walls! Up in the Lido and in the dining room the hand sanitizer machines no longer have anything in them. There is a person standing there making sure that every person entering gets a squirt. 

Fortunately Mel and I are fine. We only know of one person who has gone to the infirmary with diarrhea and he says it is not unusual for him. They did quarantine him for 24 hours anyway. People who have reported the symptoms are told to stay in their cabin. They get a call every hour to verify that they are there. Not sure if they have had to lock anyone in yet. I am sure part of the panic is that the CEO of HAL is due onboard in a week or 2. But our poor Capt just doesn't know what else to do. I asked our steward about it this evening. He said it is mostly in the lower floors, good for us. The stewards have been told if they see diarrhea in a toilet or tub to report it. That doesn't seem enough. If someone spends a lot of time in their cabin they should be reported. Passengers should report people missing from dinner or if they hear any other thing. We had dinner at a different restaurant last night. Our tablemates said they would be happy to report us. :) This usually happens for a few days. So far we have been on red alert for almost 10!!! Hope it ends soon, that no one we know is affected and that it doesn't affect the entire cruise.