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'All the prayers are working': Macon man's parents infected with coronavirus on cruise

David Smith says his 80-year-old parents were among those who tested positive for the virus on a cruise ship in Japan

MACON, Ga. — Dozens of passengers aboard a cruise ship in Japan have tested positive for coronavirus, including a Georgia couple.

David Smith’s parents are among the eight confirmed Americans with the potentially lethal virus.

Smith says his 80-year-old parents, Renee and Clyde, were tested after going on an excursion in Japan.

They were on a bus with the original person that tested positive for the virus. Renee and Clyde were transported to a hospital in Tokyo.

Smith says they are sharing a room together and doing very well.

“My father had pneumonia and that was really scary because that’s what really ended some of the fatalities with this, but it cleared up quickly, and now they’re both symptom-free,” he said. “They’re doing fantastic, and my nephews are symptom-free, so all the prayers and everybody’s thoughts are working. They’re doing very, very well right now.”

While doctors in Tokyo continue to monitor David's parents, he says there's an outpouring of support.

"They're the type of people that everybody loves. In all walks of life, everybody's concerned with them, praying for them, and the prayers are working, obviously," says David.

Smith’s two nephews are also on the ship. Right now, he says they are quarantined inside their room. He says they have not been tested yet for the virus.

David describes his 80-year-old parents as, "a very young, active, energetic 80."

Despite catching the dangerous virus, David says his parents still plan to keep traveling. 

"When somebody asked, 'Is this going to keep y'all from traveling in the future?' My mom said, 'Oh, heavens no -- this is just a little bump in the road.' As we get past this, they're ready to start traveling again," says David. 

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