P&O Cruises Australia , Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises will provide select ships as floating hospitals in the coronavirus fight. Importantly, the ships will be used for non-coronavirus patients where patients are suffering from less critical conditions.
In return the cruise liners have asked that governments or health authorities cover the essential cost of the ships operations while in port.
The move allows for pressure to be lifted from land based hospitals which are expected to be under pressure from COVID-19 patients.
Cabins onboard can be quickly converted to install patient monitoring devices over the ships high speed network, and providing respiratory, cardiac, oxygen saturation and video monitoring capabilities. The cabins also have the necessary bathroom facilities, private balconies and isolation capabilities as needed.
Similar to land based health facilities, cruise ships are also capable of housing multiple medical functions in differing locations by separating decks for each required medical area. The temporary hospital cruise ships would be berthed at a port near the community in need with all operations such as maritime options, food, beverages, and cleaning supported by the ships crew. Health Authorities or Government departments would provide medical services for fighting the spread of COVID-19.
The fight to stop COVID-19 is real and with the help of the cruise liners, there is hope for the community to pull together.