Owensboro couple Chris and Nikki Hall will soon return to Owensboro, where they’ll self-isolate after being quarantined on the Grand Princess cruise ship and again at the Dobbins Air Reserve base in Georgia.
The Halls were kept on board the Grand Princess for an extra eight days after 21 people tested positive for COVID-19. Those eight days are a wash because everyone was congregated together during the bus and plane rides to the military bases — so the quarantine process had to be reset for everyone.
They weren’t tested at either location, but Nikki said they are being tested before they get back to Kentucky.
“It’s just a joke,” Chris said. “Why didn’t they leave us on the ship, test us there, and let us go home?”
The Halls said their quarantine conditions in Georgia were unsuitable. The couple made calls to Kentucky lawmakers and posted videos of their experience to Facebook.
Their efforts paid off, and they’ll be allowed to return home along with 12 other Kentuckians Sunday.
All 14 people will be transported six hours by bus to Lexington. The Halls will have a car waiting for them, where they’ll make the drive back home together. Their self-isolation will take place at their house, but they will have to stay away from the rest of their family during that time.
In a Saturday afternoon press conference, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he’s been working hard with the federal government to get them all back home.
“We care about you and we know you’ve been through a lot,” he said. “I promise I’m doing everything I can and I really hope you will see some Kentuckian’s smiling face tomorrow there to pick you up.”
The Halls said their land-based quarantine was a complete shock compared to the experience aboard the Grand Princess.
The couple said even during quarantine on the Grand Princess, passengers were given choices for each meal, and their dietary restrictions were taken into account. There was full meal and bar service each and every day, despite the circumstances surrounding them.
“Since we got off the ship, it’s been pretty downhill,” Chris said Saturday.
The Halls said after receiving a chicken salad lunch that was “frozen solid” along with a moldy orange at the military base, they began making the effort to leave.
Nikki and Chris spoke to those at the base about the problems with food and communication, and after that, things improved.
“They had no idea,” she said. “I got breakfast the next day, and it was a lot of food. I thought everything was running smoother.”
Nikki said she began helping those in quarantine get better food service by talking to those in charge and even helping non-English speakers translate their needs and concerns to officials at the base.
“It hurts my feelings to see people being treated this way,” she said. “On a conference call, I was told it would be corrected. I said, ‘You need to make sure these people are being fed. We only rely on you to feed us. There’s [24-hour surveillance] making sure we don’t leave. There’s a fence wrapped around the whole area.”
Nikki said she’s glad for the chance to get back to Owensboro, and she hopes she can in some way help those who don’t yet have the chance to leave.
“We’re just happy that we get to go home,” she said, “and we hope we’ve brought some awareness for the people still stuck in quarantine in Georgia.”
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The Owensboro Health coronavirus hotline is available 24/7 by calling 877-888-6647. Call the hotline before seeking in-person care. More information from OH can be found here.
For the latest information and data on COVID-19 in Kentucky visit kycovid19.ky.gov or dial the Kentucky state hotline at 800-722-5725.
For the latest health guidelines and resources from the CDC, visit their website here.
