The Houston Museum of Natural Science and the city of Houston have asked 35 people to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from a trip to Egypt, where a cruise ship has been identified as a point of outbreak for the novel coronavirus.

Museum spokesperson Melodie Wade said about 15 travelers were scheduled to return to the U.S. this past Saturday and Monday, while another 20 people are expected to land in the coming days after an extension of the trip into Jordan. The group of 20 is set to take connecting flights through airports in France, which has reported nearly 1,800 cases of COVID-19, and Turkey, which has not reported any cases.

Wade said the museum sponsored the trip through its department of adult education and organized it more than a year ago through California-based Joy Travel International. The group includes two members of the museum’s staff.

Joy Travel International owner Fadel Gad said the museum-affiliated group traveled on a cruise ship through Aswan and Luxor, two riverside cities frequently used by cruise operators. However, the party did not board the M.S. Asara, the cruise ship linked to the Houston-area COVID-19 cases, Gad said.

Gad added that the group traveled in a relatively exclusive group, with limited public interactions.

“We do hear that folks were quarantined when they get back, and it’s not mandatory, it’s volunteer,” Gad said. “Because this group wasn’t exposed to any crowds or anything, we assume that everybody is free of the virus.”

One of the self-quarantined staff members, when reached Tuesday afternoon at their apartment, referred questions about the trip to the museum. Pictures from Joy Travel International's Facebook paged showed him enjoying the sights last week in Egypt.

"I'm feeling fine," he said, before shutting the door.

After learning that several confirmed cases in the Houston area were all linked to a different trip to Egypt, Wade said, the museum “immediately contacted our HMNS staff and travelers and provided links via email about the virus and precautions to take from local, state, national and international organizations..

“We touched base with them daily during the remainder of the trip and asked them to check their temperatures daily and keep us informed of any concerns,” Wade said. “Their safety is of utmost importance to us.”

Multiple media outlets have reported that Egyptian officials announced 59 identified cases of COVID-19 as of Monday night, most of which were linked to the Asara cruise ship. However, some Egyptian leaders and media outlets noted that the Egyptian government routinely faces accusations of withholding information that could harm the country, including its tourism industry. They also said Egypt’s health care system is not well-equipped to conduct extensive tests for the new coronavirus.

Museum officials have prohibited staff and volunteers who were on the trip from coming to the museum during the quarantine period.

“We will continue to be in touch with city officials,” Wade said, “and will follow their guidance.”

lisa.gray@chron.com