Gov.: Ship with sick passengers did not stop in Hawaii

Princess Cruise Lines has notified passengers of its Grand Princess cruise ship that federal health officials are investigating a "small cluster" of coronavirus cases connected to the ship's mid-February voyage.

It asked current passengers to stay in their cabins until they were cleared by medical staff and said those who had been on the previous voyage should contact their doctor if they develop fever or other symptoms.

Hawaii Governor David Ige said the two passengers who were ill were on a February voyage that did not stop in Hawaii.

The current cruise visited four Hawaiian islands.

One crew member was hospitalised in Hilo, Hawaii, but tested negative for the coronavirus.

The Grand Princess is at sea off Mexico and will return early to San Francisco, where Center for Disease Control and company officials will meet to determine the course of action, the cruise line said.

California planned to fly COVID-19 testing kits out to the ship, which won't be allowed to dock until the test results are completed, Governor Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.