Officials try to head off Cornwall, Ont., coronavirus concerns

Federal and provincial public health officials are attemptingto quellany concerns of locals about the use of a Cornwall, Ont.,facility as a quarantine zone for Canadians from an evacuated cruise ship.

On Saturday, the Canadian government announced it had chartered a plane to bring home Canadians from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been docked in Japan since Feb. 3 over concerns about COVID-19, the newcoronavirus.

Approximately 250 Canadians are aboard the quarantined ship. Those who will be repatriated will be screened in Japan, thenat the Canadian Forces base in Trenton, Ont., before spending two weeks under further quarantine attheNav Centre in Cornwall, southeast of Ottawa.

"At no point will the general public have access to or be able to come in contact with any individuals under quarantine," saidDr. Howard Njoo, deputy public health officer with the Public Health Agency of Canada, at the news conference.

Njoosaid that quarantined people will remain in their rooms in the Nav Centre along the St. Lawrence Riverduring the 14-day period, with the exception of outdoor leisure time withspecified boundaries.

The cruise shipis carrying around 3,600 crew members and passengers, including a 75-year-old couple from Cantley, Que., whohave tested positive for the virusand will be staying in Japan for treatment.

Mayor wants to 'move on'

Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement said she wants to move on after being initially frustrated over what she said was a lack of communication with federal officials.

"I'm not going to live in the place of frustration.I can't because there is too much to do and too much communication that needs to take place for the residents of Cornwall," she said during the news conference.

"I am feeling much more confident going forward that we're going to have the federal government andthe lead agenciesfill that void."

Clement initially raised concerns about the planto use the Nav Centre in a video posted to Facebook Sunday morning.

Cornwall's ConservativeMP Eric Duncan echoed those frustrations over lack of communicationon Monday.

"This has been an absolute failure from a communication and public relations perspective. Frankly the residents of the City of Cornwall deserve much better from their federal government," Duncan wrote.

It's not yet known when the plane will be ready.

Anyonewho showssymptoms of the virus will not be permitted to board in Japan andwill be transferred to the Japanese health system.

If any passenger shows symptoms while aboard the plane, Njoo saidthey will remain in Trenton and will not be transferred to Cornwall.

The federal government said Saturday that those who remain in Japan will continue to receive consular services through the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo.