Coronavirus: Diamond Princess cruise ship’s food workers quickened Covid-19 spread, study finds

The first infections were detected among guests, but the virus spread to crew members, who accounted for three-quarters of confirmed cases among staff

The US report highlights the risk of exposure in crowded settings like ships and concert venues that are now shutting down to contain the outbreak

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The Diamond Princess cruise ship at Yokohama Port near Tokyo. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 1:46pm, 18 Mar 2020Updated: 1:50pm, 18 Mar 2020

Food-service employees aboard the Diamond Princess hastened the spread of coronavirus on the stricken cruise ship, ultimately contributing to more than 700 cases, according to a US government study.

Although the first cases were detected among passengers, the virus spread to members of the crew, according to the study published on Tuesday in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

On February 2, a food-service worker became the first known case among crew, and such employees accounted for three-quarters of early laboratory-confirmed cases among staff.

The report said those workers prepared food for other members of the crew.

The report highlights the risk of exposure in crowded settings like ships, gyms and concert venues, popular gathering spots that are now shutting down to contain the virus.