Upon returning from cruise ships to the United States, two vaccinated passengers tested positive on board and were isolated

The departure of this ship from Celebrity, the giant’s luxury cruise brand Royal Caribbean, made headlines everywhere. It is the first major cruise ship to embark with a large majority of American passengers, although it does not touch any port in the United States. in more than 14 months since the start of the COVID 19 pandemic. The cruise industry has been one of the hardest hit because, unlike airlines, they had to cease their activities and there is still no firm agreement with the authorities indicating with certainty how they will return to work.

On board the ship, journalists will document the return of a large industry which, for example, in the city of Miami is the one that generates the most jobs. Last Saturday, around 500 passengers boarded the cruise ship in the port of St. Martin for a tour of the Caribbean that includes stops at Barbados, Aruba Yes Curacao. 95% of them are vaccinated, except for minors for whom there are no vaccines yet. 100% of workers are vaccinated. However, two passengers tested positive for coronavirus.

The two passengers shared a room on the ship and, according to the company, have no symptoms.

“Celebrity Millennium left on Saturday with all its employees and passengers vaccinated, and following strict protocols in agreement with our partners in the various destinations, even exceeding the recommendations of the CDC, to protect the health and safety of our travelers, ”indicates a press release sent by the company.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), vaccinated people can contract the virus, but should develop asymptomatic cases or, failing that, very mild cases. According to clinical studies, those who have received vaccines developed by Pfizer or Moderna, the two most popular in the United States, are 90% covered against the virus.

Although before boarding all passengers, proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test were required, on this first cruise, which was designed as a kind of test, new tests for the virus were planned during the stay. It was during one of these routine tests, five days after departure, that the two passengers were found positive.

By isolating these two people, who have medical surveillance on board the cruise ship, activities continued normally on the boat. The restaurants are open, as are the pools and spa.

According to the company, it was foreseeable that something like this could happen in the midst of the pandemic, pero considers a victory to have more than 800 people on board (between passengers and employees), only two will be infected.

“This situation shows that our rigorous health and safety protocols are effective in protecting our workers, passengers and the communities we visit“, They indicate in the press release.

The cruise industry is expected to operate from the United States again from mid-July. The debate now revolves around whether or not they can require proof of travelers’ vaccinations, which the federal government suggests but is opposed by other types of leaders, such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the state from which they operate most. of the country’s cruise lines.

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