Cruise ship quarantined off California coast by coronavirus

Thousands of people were stranded on Wednesday, 4, on a cruise ship off the coast of Californiain the United States, in the face of suspected cases of the new coronavirus on board. The Grand Princess ship was headed for Hawaii when suspicion arose, prompting her return to San Francisco.

A 71-year-old man who traveled on the ship on his previous cruise ship to Mexicodied of the coronavirus in the first fatal case recorded in California, the company Princess Cruises reported.

"We are retaining this ship, which has thousands of passengers, and we will conduct the tests," said California Governor Gavin Newsom.

There are suspected infection in 11 passengers and 10 crew members. The ship's docking was delayed to allow "more time" for testing on "a number of passengers and crew members who showed symptoms."

A group of 62 passengers who remained on board after the trip to Mexico are isolated on the ship until the tests are performed, Princess Cruises told AFP, without specifying if any have symptoms. "As a precaution, we ask these passengers and other potential ly infected to remain in their cabins until they are examined by our medical team."

According to Newsom, about 2,500 passengers were on board when the ship traveled to Mexico. The company reported 1,150 crew members.