An enjoyable and bonding trip ended as a harrowing experience for Lani, her husband Rick and their two grandchildren aged 14 and 10 years. Little did they know that after having a great time touring Tokyo, Mt Fuji and Disneyland after leaving Sydney on January 16, and enjoying the luxury cruise on Diamond Princess that they would get infected by COVID-19 and suffered periods of isolation on the ship and in Japanese hospitals.
Lani and Rick who used to live next door to us, do a lot of travelling in addition to shuttling between Australia and the Philippines. They enjoy staying in their condominium overlooking Manila Bay and in their two-storey home in the picturesque San Andres, Romblon in the Visayas region of the Philippines.
A lot of the times they go away with their ballroom dance group in Sydney joining luxury cruises where they enjoy dancing together. Before the recent Diamond Princess for the Southeast Asia Lunar Year cruise, the other cruises they have done include the Baltic Cruise on Queen Victoria (Cunard Lines) – London, Copenhagen, Sweden, Estonia, Russia, Finland and Norway; Alaskan Cruise on Star Princess (Princess Cruises) - Alaska; Mediterranean Cruise on Queen Elizabeth (Cunard Lines) – Italy, Greece and Turkey; UK and Iceland Cruise on Queen Elizabeth (Cunard Lines) – Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Iceland and Germany and British Isles on Royal Princess (Princess Cruises) – British Isles, Czech Republic and France.
Lani and family joined Diamond Princess at Yokohama Japan on January 19, with the family sharing a balcony suite. The cruise went for 14 days visiting Kagoshima, Hong Kong, Da Nang, Chan Mai, Halong Bay, Hanoi, Okinawa, Taipei then returning to Yokohama. They attended each of the day trips available at the ports.
Encounter with COVID-19
I asked Lani how they found out about COVID-19 on the ship.
She said: "We found out on the last night of our voyage, on February 3. We returned to our cabin after watching a theatre show, when an announcement was made by the captain on the PA system. He advised that the ship with all its passengers and staff would be quarantined for 14 days, as a passenger who disembarked at Hong Kong had become ill and tested positive for COVID-19. He explained that we had to remain in our cabins for fear of the virus spreading. Meals were to be delivered to our rooms, and that if we were to develop a cough or temperature – to contact the ship’s medical team.
"I was first to test positive – I wasn’t showing any symptoms but I felt a tickle in my throat so I requested to be tested. A medical officer visited our cabin to perform the test, and I was informed by the medical staff two days later that I was positive. I disembarked two days later thereafter and was taken to Hitachi hospital.
"Five days later my husband and grandchildren were tested, and the result was that my husband and granddaughter, 14 years, were both positive with COVID-19. My grandson, 10 years tested negative. My husband was taken to Ichinomiya Hospital, and my grandchildren were taken to New Fugita Hospital.
"There was no treatment for myself, my husband and granddaughter as none of us showed any symptoms. We just needed to be isolated, tested and monitored. We received x-rays, CT scans, and mouth and nose swabs every other day.
"I was in quarantine on the ship for 10 days, then in hospital for 21 days. My husband and grandchildren were quarantined on the ship for 15 days, then were in hospital for 15 days in their respective hospitals.
Quarantine Days
"Our quarantine days aboard the ship were quite pleasant. We enjoyed our meals on the balcony, the kids received daily gift packages of toys, games and activities. We had wifi access, newly released movies and were able to make unlimited international calls. The crew were exceptional, they took very good care of us, especially the kids. They were able to request meals and they were very generous with treats and fruits throughout the day.
"Hospital quarantine on the other hand was completely different. We struggled to communicate with the hospital staff as their English was limited as was our Japanese! Our contact with the outside world was minimal, and our family was separated. In the initial stages, it was particularly difficult and distressing as there was no communication between us. I didn’t know where each of us were, nor did we know each other’s state of health.
"The nurses and doctors were excellent, as was our level of care. They were very accommodating with our requests, except we had limited access to showers. There was a nurse at each corner monitoring the hall to ensure no one was around.
"As is the case everywhere hospital food is not appetising and you force yourself to eat.
In terms of the biggest challenge for the family during the quarantine, Lani said:
"The separation from my family, and uncertainty was the worst. However when we gained wifi and phone access we were ok. The language barrier also made it so difficult at times. Google translate didn’t help, in fact sometimes it was funny. The nurses would use the translator and say things like ‘Goodnight Lani, sleep slowly’. It wasn’t always right, but sometimes you got the idea of what they were trying to say.
"Rick and I worried about how the kids were on their own, how we would get home, and the cost of our hospital visits. But had the support of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade [DFAT], the Japanese government, the Australian Consulate and Diamond Princess Care Team to sort those problems out. They helped to bring my other daughter to Japan so that she could be near the kids while we were separated.
What would have been the best aspects of her quarantine period?
"On the ship, we had good bonding time with the grandkids.
"In the hospital, as a Christian my Faith was strengthened. I felt divine interventions at times being so down. During my time in the hospital, I felt very depressed and lonely. I had no means of communication as there was no reception in the wards. I requested Wi-Fi access, but they rejected my request as it was hospital policy that no patients have access to the Wi-Fi. I didn’t think that I’d be able to speak to my family until I returned to Australia. I had no communication with anyone apart from the hospital staff who mostly spoke Japanese only. I prayed and prayed to have some sort of contact outside the hospital. So that I could find out where my family were and how they were doing.
There were hundreds of patients there, but by chance the director of the hospital came and saw me. After speaking with me, he made an exception to the hospital policy and permitted me to have unlimited internet access. I was finally able to communicate with my husband and family back home. I was shocked to hear that my husband and my granddaughter were positive and they were all in different hospitals, but at least we speak to each other.
"And again, after being discharged from hospital I travelled from Narita to Nagoya to be reunited with my family who were in hospitals in the Nagoya region. I felt anxious about being alone, and finally seeing my husband whom I had been separated from for 3.5 weeks. It was the first time in a long time that I travelled on my own and the language barrier made things much worse. As I sat waiting to board the plane, I prayed for guidance and a safe journey to Nagoya, I was so nervous that something would go wrong. And if something did happen, I wouldn’t know what to do. At one stage I thought it was odd that I was the only one seated in the boarding gate. I double checked my boarding pass several times, and checked I was at the right gate over and over – it was ok, I was in the right place. But something in me made me approach the counter and ask the staff just to be sure. As it turns out the gate had been changed and my flight was leaving in a matter of mins from a gate 600 metres away. I ran over to the gate, and they rang the plane so that it would wait for me. Apparently they announced the change of gate, but due to a shortage of English speaking staff, did not make the announcement in English!
"By 4th March, Rick, granddaughter and myself were reunited having been discharged after finally testing negative. Our issue then was with my grandson who had been staying at the same hospital as my granddaughter, although in different rooms. The hospital he was staying at insisted that my grandson complete his quarantine period there. However as he was a minor and negative the whole time, we requested that he complete his quarantine at the hotel with us. As you can imagine, being just 10 years old, in a foreign country, away from your family was difficult for him. At least at the hotel he would be with us. It became a diplomatic issue between the Hospital Director, the Japanese Ministry of health, and the Australian consulate. The Hospital director and the Ministry of health would not permit my grandson leave the hospital. To the point that they had a meeting with the Australian consulate. My husband and I waited in a separate room while the meeting was in progress. The whole time, we prayed that they would release him and the four of us would finally be together. After three hours of praying, they finally discharged him."
Post COVID-19 Time
Lani and the family arrived back in Sydney on March 13. When they got back they immediately went to a COVID clinic to get tested. They all returned negative results, but as a precaution decided to isolate themselves for an additional 14 days.
What challenges did they face post COVID-19 experience?
Lani shared: "When travelling back to Sydney from Japan, I felt we were discriminated against by airline ground staff in Tokyo. They were very rude and insulting. Despite being tested negative and having the support from the Australian and Japanese governments, they caused us hours of delays and treated us like second class passengers.
"Also, we felt we were discriminated against by our doctor here in Australia. We sought a referral letter to see a specialist for a pre-existing medical condition upon returning. Again, despite giving plenty of notice, and providing adequate documentation – they wanted to further isolate us in a separate room. This wasn’t done in a discrete way, rather announced publicly in an open waiting room with many people waiting."
Advice on avoiding infection by the virus
After her experience with testing positive and being quarantined and hospitalised Lani has practical advice for people on how to avoid contracring the virus.
She said: "Aside from usual handwashing practise, always cough/sneeze into a tissue and discard or into your elbow. If you have underlying medical conditions or are a senior, use masks and gloves when in public.
"When returning home from the supermarket, leave your shoes outside the house. Shower immediately and put your clothes in the wash. Sanitise grocery items and fruits/vegies with soapy water.
"Disinfect home traffic areas like floors, door knobs, light switches, tables and chairs every other day.
"If you’re feeling anxious or emotional due to the stress of COVID, give yourself the mindset that you are negative and just take precautions.
About Lani
Lani is from San Andres, Romblon Philippines. Her father is from Mindoro while her mother is from Antique. She is the youngest of five children, with one sister and three brothers.
She finished Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1972. She got married to Rick who was her classmate in Nursing, on Dec 19, 1973 and they have two daughters. They migrated to Australia in 1977.
She worked for three years as a Clinical Educator at two Universities in Manila, then spent another two years in public health. She continued nursing in Australia working in Recovery, CCU, and ICU. She also worked as a Clinical Educator for a number of years too. She and Rick are both retired after their nursing career of 40 years.
We asked Lani to share what a typical day was like while on the ship and in the hospital. This is shown at the end of this article.
Lastly we also asked Lani if they would go on a cruise again.
"Yes definitely, when it's safe."
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TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE
SHIP
8:00am Breakfast delivered
8:30am Breakfast on balcony – Myself and husband
9am Temperature check
10am Exercise, then shower
10am Breakfast on balcony – Grandkids
11am Watch TV or phone friends and family
12pm Lunch delivered
1pm Watch TV
2pm Temperature check
3pm Play games with grandkids
7pm Dinner
8pm Watch movies or phone friends and family
9pm Temperature check
9.30pm After doing bits and pieces, go to sleep
HOSPITAL
6:30am Nurse checkup
7:30am Breakfast
9am Novena (hourly until 6pm)
10am stretching
11am phone calls to family and friends
12pm Lunch
2pm Afternoon nap
3pm Shower time (on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday)
3:30pm Watch view from hospital window
5pm Stretching
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Watch YouTube videos
9:30pm Sleep