Passengers find out about coronavirus cases on cruise ship from Pence speech
March 7, 2020, 11:04 am

Passengers find out about coronavirus cases on cruise ship from Pence speech

Vice President Mike Pence speaks to reporters during a coronavirus briefing in the press briefing room of the White House, Friday, March 6, 2020, in Washington. (AP)

Passengers aboard the Grand Princess cruise ship, stranded off the California coast due to coronavirus fears, found out about 21 confirmed infections on the ship from US Vice President Mike Pence.

Read more in our dedicated coronavirus section.

The VP announced the results during a White House briefing before the captain or medical team made the announcement themselves to the passengers, according to a video shared on Twitter.

“We apologize but we were not given advance notice of this announcement by the US Federal Government,” an unidentified person making the announcement was heard saying. “It would’ve been our preference to be the first to make this news available to you.”

https://twitter.com/grantstern/status/1236086854421827584

The man heard speaking in the video also said the ship’s doctor would communicate the results to those who tested positive.

Twenty-one people have tested positive for coronavirus aboard the cruise ship denied entry to San Francisco Bay this week after a number of passengers and crew developed flu-like symptoms on the vessel, which was linked to previously confirmed COVID-19 infections.

https://twitter.com/Mike_Pence/status/1236059456254783488

source: Joanne Serrieh

Two attendees test positive for coronavirus at AIPAC attended by Pence Two people die of coronavirus in Florida: Health department

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”