Triad Woman Quarantined On Cruise Ship In Japan

A Triad-area woman is quarantined on board a cruise ship in Japan due to the threat of the coronavirus. Her local church community is sending long-distance support.

Actress and vocalist Candace Culcleasure studied voice in Winston-Salem before becoming a featured entertainer with Princess Cruises. Now her ship remains docked off the coast of Japan with passengers quarantined in their rooms and regularly checked for signs of the coronavirus. The cruise line is reporting more than 130 cases on board thus far.

Back home in Winston-Salem, Culcleasure's church community is monitoring her situation. United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Alvin Armstead, Jr. says she's holding up as best as she can, given the circumstances.

“It can be very daunting,” says Armstead. “It can send us on a downward spiral. So, I think the church's response has been to just keep her spirits lifted up and to keep her engaged and let her know that this is not something that she has to go through by herself.”

Armstead says that Culcleasure does not appear to have the virus, and looks forward to returning home. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, the Centers for Disease Control was reporting 13 U.S. cases with more than 45,000 worldwide.