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Dr. Anne Gatignol, a microbiologist who has studied virus-cell interactions, had urged Quebec to require Canadians returning from China self-quarantine for 14 days upon their return to the province. A week later, Quebec followed her advice.

This time, Gatignol is urging 255 Canadians on the Diamond Princess do the same when they return to the country.

“From a virologist’s perspective, a cruise ship with a large number of persons on board is more an incubator for viruses rather than a good place for quarantine,” Gatignol said on Friday.

The ship is the second-most contagious spot on the planet for coronavirus, after China, according to epidemiological data.

“It is likely that the number of infections will continue to rise, although I cannot exclude that it could decrease within the next days,” Gatignol said.