Georgia couple who once tested positive for coronavirus released from Tokyo hospital

Renee and Clyde Smith, an Atlanta-area couple with ties to Macon, are expected to return home soon having been released from a Tokyo hospital after a brush with COVID-19.

The couple, both in their 80s, tested positive for the COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship and spent more than three weeks quarantined in a shared hospital room where Clyde Smith recovered from pneumonia, said their middle son, David Smith, a Macon attorney.

His parents were released Tuesday from the hospital after testing negative twice for COVID-19, he said.

Carnival Cruise Line, the parent company of the Princess Diamond, has put them up in a hotel in Tokyo until they can get the OK from the CDC and the U.S. Embassy to fly home, Smith said.

That’s not expected to happen for at least two more days, he said.

“They say it’s near a shopping area so they can go out and go shopping,” Smith said of his parents’ hotel. “They can still see Mount Fuji.

“They said it’s beautiful weather there, and they can walk around and enjoy the sights right now. So at least they’re getting a real vacation for a few days — it sounds like — before they can come home.”

Their grandsons, both in their 20s, were among those quarantined on the Diamond Princess and then quarantined at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, after being flown back with other U.S. citizens aboard the ship.

The grandsons, who never tested positive for COVID-19, arrived home to Atlanta on Tuesday, Smith said.

“I’m just so happy they’re OK and so happy that I’m finally going to get to see them soon,” Smith said first of his parents. “It is what is, and thankfully, my family were some of the lucky ones that it didn’t affect too bad.

“I’m very, very excited to have them home so I can get some big hugs from parents — and my nephews.”

His parents felt like they were treated like royalty at the hospital, Smith said.

“The president of the hospital gave my parents a letter saying how wonderful my parents were and how nice they treated all the staff, and my parents thought that was just wonderful,” Smith said. “And all the nurses have given them all these ‘get well soon’ cards and ‘nice to meet you’ cards … They’ve just been treated wonderfully by the staff at the hospital there.”

When his parents were released from the hospital, Carnival Cruise Line offered to send a taxi to take them to the the hotel a couple of miles away. But his parents chose to walk, and several of the nurses that had cared for them decided to walk with them, Smith said.

“My parents just wanted to walk and get some fresh air,” Smith said. “I think my parents made America look really good and the nurses made Japan look really good. They’re still some wonderful people in this world.”

His parents had with them basically what they were wearing, having packed a small bag when taken to the hospital, Smith said.

“My father... is larger than most Japanese people, so I’m hoping he can find some clothes because their clothes are still on the ship,” Smith said with a laugh.

The couple boarded the Diamond Princess in Japan in late January. They renewed their weddings vows while onboard. On an excursion during the trip, the person who was originally diagnosed with COVID-19 was on the same bus with his parents, Smith said.

In spite of their brush with COVID-19, his parents remain undaunted about traveling, Smith said.

“They say nothing like this is going to stop them from traveling,” Smith said.

Their first trip is expected to be a jaunt to Macon to celebrate missed birthdays of Smith’s wife and son. They’re already talking about taking the family out to dinner to celebrate, Smith said.

“I’m so happy,” Smith said. “Prayers worked, and they’re doing well.”

This story was originally published March 5, 2020 at 1:27 PM with the headline "Georgia couple who once tested positive for coronavirus released from Tokyo hospital."