A White Rock man who made international headlines with his husband last month, after the cruise ship they were on was quarantined off the coast of Japan due to a coronavirus outbreak, remains frustrated at how the Canadian government handled the situation.

The length of time it took for Canadian passengers to be repatriated, and the treatment received during a second two-week quarantine imposed upon their return to the country are central issues, Nigel Finch-Cole told Peace Arch News Tuesday.

鈥淚t took two weeks for them to get a flight organized to get us off that ship,鈥� Finch-Cole said. 鈥淲e felt that was far too long.

鈥淚t was just the stress of not knowing, were we going to get off the ship before we became infected.鈥�

Finch-Cole and his husband Patrick Cole 鈥� married 38 years 鈥� were among nearly 4,000 people onboard the ill-fated Diamond Princess, which was the first cruise ship to be quarantined after the coronoavirus (COVID-19) was identified in China in December.

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Ultimately 鈥� and despite measures including isolating passengers in their staterooms 鈥� more than 700 people on the ship fell ill.

Fortunately, the couple were not among the afflicted, but Finch-Cole said Tuesday the fear of a positive test was ever-present.

鈥淚t was a sinking feeling to think that suddenly you鈥檙e going to be trapped in a small room for 14 days,鈥� the retired Air Canada customer-service rep told PAN, of his reaction to the ship captain鈥檚 Feb. 4 order for everyone to return to their staterooms and stay put till further news.

鈥淗e came on the P.A. and said that the Japanese authorities were imposing a quarantine and we were not to leave our staterooms.

鈥淲ith the loss of control that we felt 鈥� our destiny is now in the hands of a foreign government. Then, the worry set in after that, would we catch it or not?鈥�

The couple arrived back home in White Rock on March 6 鈥� a return Finch-Cole said felt 鈥渓ike winning the lottery 鈥� to have your freedom back.鈥�

But he has questions, including why were those onboard the Diamond Princess essentially on lock-down for a month 鈥� first on the ship and then in Cornwall, Ont. where they were greeted with 鈥渂arren鈥� dormitory-style accommodation and extensive security 鈥� while individuals who are being diagnosed in Canada 鈥渁re simply called to self-quarantine.鈥�

鈥淎ll hell broke loose when we found that out,鈥� Finch-Cole said of how he and fellow Canadians took news of the self-quarantine orders, which the 147 learned about during the Cornwall quarantine.

鈥淲e understand the reason for the quarantine and we weren鈥檛 objecting to that. My issue was, why was there an inconsistency between us as a group and individuals coming into the country on a daily basis. Why weren鈥檛 they quarantined? These were positive people simply being told to go home.

鈥淲e tested negative, we remained negative the whole time, and yet we were forced into a quarantine because we were travelling as a group. There was an inconsistency in the way the Quarantine Act was applied.鈥�

Despite the mental toll of the experience, Finch-Cole said there were positives that helped take the edge off the frustration, as well as wisdom gained.

The positives included the treatment received from Princess Cruises, which was 鈥渕ore than generous, more than kind and great with follow-up,鈥� and the Red Cross, which administered the Cornwall quarantine. As well, care packages that arrived at the couple鈥檚 stateroom door from friends were acts of 鈥渟upreme kindness,鈥� Finch-Cole said.

He laughed when he shared one of those pieces of wisdom: when planning a cruise, 鈥渁lways book a balcony.鈥�

Finch-Cole said he and Patrick are not dissuaded from taking future cruises, and are already in the process of planning one for next year.

And they鈥檙e also not concerned about getting together with friends, as will be the case Wednesday evening (March 11), when a welcome-home event is planned at a Marine Drive restaurant.

鈥淵ou cannot live your life during this crisis thinking that way,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou just have to get on with it. There鈥檚 no reason to be hesitant to meet friends.鈥�

The informal affair is set for 6-9 p.m. at Primo鈥檚 Mexican Grill, 15069 Marine Dr. Hosted by the White Rock Pride Society, the drop-in event is 鈥渢o show them that the community was following their experience and supporting them,鈥� society president Ernie Klassen told PAN.

Klassen said despite provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry advising people to consider alternatives to 鈥渢hose types of environments right now,鈥� he鈥檚 not heard any concerns around the plans for the gathering, and he鈥檚 expecting a full house.

He said he 鈥渃an鈥檛 imagine鈥� what the couple have been through, and wonders if they realize just how far their story travelled.

Anyone who would like to extend them a warm welcome, is welcome, Klassen said.

鈥淟et鈥檚 show them that they are part of a community that cares,鈥� he said. 鈥淓ven just pop in and poke your head in the door and say, 鈥楬i and welcome home.鈥欌��

tholmes@peacearchnews.com
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