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U.S. evacuation plan troubles Blue Point couple on quarantined cruise ship

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News that the United States will evacuate nearly 400 American passengers and crew from a cruise ship in Japan that’s been ravaged by 285 cases of coronavirus has left a Blue Point passenger on the ship disgusted.

In fact, Guy Cerullo isn’t sure what makes him more sick:

The thought of being crammed onto a 10-hour chartered flight with some 400 other passengers who just came off a cruise ship teeming with the highly contagious coronavirus.

Or…

The fact that the U.S. government waited nearly two weeks to execute a plan to evacuate American passengers and crew from a vessel infested with the deadly contagion.

“You think the U.S. decided this today. It was deff (sic) figured out a week ago,” Cerullo texted to GreaterSayville.com. “They should have got involved 4 days in. Not when it’s convenient for them.

“Was all a game. Let Japan deal with the immediate hazards,” continued Cerullo, who is on the Diamond Princess with his newlywed wife Milena Basso. “Tbh, we gave up. I have no faith in our government anymore.”

Two other Blue Point residents, according to friends and a family member, are on the ship, which has been quarantined and harboring off Yokohama, Japan, since Feb. 3. Fewer than 1,000 of the 3,700 passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess have been tested for coronavirus.

Those who have been diagnosed with the virus — including dozens of Americans — were or are in the process of being taken to land-based medical facilities.

U.S. citizens still on board the cruise ship received an email early today from the U.S. embassy in Japan alerting them of the American government’s plan to evacuate them by bus and plane on Sunday, and fly back to the United States. The plane will travel to the Travis Air Force Base in California, the letter said, with some ship passengers and crew then continuing to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, according to the letter.

It seems that Americans already diagnosed with coronavirus will not be on the charter flight to the Travis Air Force Base in California. Furthermore, cruise ship passengers exhibiting coronavirus symptoms will likely remain and be treated in Japan.

“Passengers will be screened for symptoms and we are working with our Japanese partners to ensure that any symptomatic passengers receive the required care in Japan if they cannot board the flight,” the letter says.

It remains unclear what becomes of Americans who had to remain on the ship even after their spouses or other travel companions were diagnosed with coronavirus and removed from the ship.

From what Guy Cerullo has been told, passengers in those situations will “have to stay on ship ’til their new quarantine is over.”

It’s all extremely vexing for the Cerullos.

“God knows what will happen if somehow we get sick on the plane or bus,” said Cerullo, who grew up in Patchogue and graduated from Patchogue-Medford High School in 2010. Right now “we are hundred-percent fine. No sign of any issue.

“They only said we were leaving tm (tomorrow). Don’t know time or how they are taking us off,” he texted, then added, “Annoying.”

Better times for Guy Cerullo and Milena Basso Cerullo in January, earlier on during their honeymoon. (Facebook)

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