Coronavirus Outbreak Suspected On Cruise Ship Docked In NYC Area

NEW YORK CITY – A cruise ship carrying passengers suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus docked in the New York City area Friday morning.

The Royal Caribbean Cruise ship docked in Bayonne, New Jersey. The town's mayor said nearly two dozen people were tested for the illness and four were sent to an area hospital for further screening.

The ship had been in the Caribbean and several passengers had complained of pulmonary issues, reports said.

NBC New York reported that the affected travelers had come from China for the cruise, which set sail from Bayonne on Jan. 27. It's unknown if any New Yorkers were aboard.

In a statement, Caribbean Cruises said: "We are participating in elevated levels of guest screening to check the spread of coronavirus. We are closely monitoring developments regarding coronavirus and have rigorous medical protocols in place onboard our ships."

New York City has no confirmed cases of coronavirus, though two suspected cases are being tested. Of five tested so far, three have come back negative, the city's health department said.

The new virus which has killed hundreds in China is a member of the coronavirus family that’s a close cousin to the SARS and MERS viruses that have caused outbreaks in the past.