City councillor’s wife feeling flu-like after cruise, awaiting virus test results

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This article was published 09/03/2020 (1655 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The wife of a Winnipeg city councillor who is in self-isolation after being tested for COVID-19, says she feels like she has the flu and has “no reason to believe it’s anything else.”

Jennifer Maw, who was on a Caribbean cruise aboard the Carnival Magic with six members of her family recently, expects to receive the results of the test in a few days.

Maw’s husband, Transcona Coun. Shawn Nason, and children were not on the cruise with her.

The ship left Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Feb. 29 and made stops in St. Maarten, Tortola, San Juan and Grand Turk, ending Sunday. She was home Monday.

Maw described her flu-like symptoms, “like many other people in the winter months or who have been travelling,” and felt they were relatively insignificant.

Before the cruise began, passengers were notified they would go through enhanced screening, a questionnaire asking if people were exhibiting flu-like symptoms or had a fever, she said.

When the ship arrived at Grand Turk, however, it was not allowed to port. Maw said the cruise line told passengers there were people on board who had exhibited symptoms that did not meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing, but were still not able to port for that reason. Passengers were also notified that another of the ports the ship visited had identified cases of COVID-19.

“My family and I have cruised a number of times and, really, to start, it felt like no different than any cruise we had been on,” she said.

“It wasn’t till the final days where there was a bit of an issue.”

While there was not a mood of panic or excessive concern on the ship, Maw said on the final day there were changes made to the dining room and buffet setup to prevent passengers from having as much direct contact with each other.

When Maw arrived back in Winnipeg she began experiencing what she believed was a cold or the flu, but wanted to make sure before she went back to work.

“I was more worried about the perception from other people (because of) the fact that I’m back from a cruise,” she said.

After contacting Health Links, she went to urgent care at Concordia Hospital, and it was recommended that Maw self-isolate at home until the COVID-19 test results come back.

Nason said he had raised concern after Maw had returned because he spends his time at city council working in close proximity with others. He said he and his children have not made direct physical contact with Maw and aren’t exhibiting any symptoms.

He said he wanted to ensure the community that he was taking all precautions possible.

“I’m not attending anything with large groups of people, I’ve made my council colleagues aware as well; some have exhibited some fear,” he said.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: malakabas_

Malak Abas
Reporter

Malak Abas is a reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press.

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