Princess Cruises' coronavirus-hit Grand Princess will dock in California's Port of Oakland at some point today after sitting miles offshore since Wednesday, the Carnival Corp brand has confirmed.
The company said 3,500-plus passengers will disembark the 107,500-gt, 1998-built passengership in a"multiple day process" that will first remove persons needing most acute care.
The US Coast Guard will dispatch California Health & Human Services (HHS) teams to help with medical triage, screening and interviews.
“All of us at Princess Cruises offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the federal, state and local authorities who are coordinating, collaborating and activating resources and personnel in support of this response to provide care and attend to the health and well-being of our guests and crew,” Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement.
Once guest disembarkation is completed, the crew will remain on board for quarantine and Grand Princess will depart from San Francisco bay.
Princess Cruises has delivered prescriptions to passengers in need, allowed them outside their rooms for fresh air on a rotation basis and provided free phone and internet.
Grand Princess remains about 10 miles off the coast of San Francisco.
Almost 1,000 passengers who are California residents will complete mandatory quarantine at Travis Air Force Base and Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego, Associated Press has reported.
Passengers needing medical care or hospitalisation will go to healthcare facilities in California. Others will go to a federally run isolation venue within the state for testing and quarantine.
US Department of Health & Human Services said residents of other states will complete mandatory quarantine at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland in Texas or Dobbins Air Force Base in Georgia.
