As cruises resume, the news I feared came true, passengers on cruise ships have tested positive for COVID. Let’s keep it in perspective, over 500,000 passengers have cruised in Europe over the last 12 months with fewer than 60 passengers testing positive for COVID. On the other hand, news of COVID cases closer to home on cruises may spell disaster.
Two passengers test positive for COVID-19 on first Celebrity Millennium cruise since 2020
TheHill.com is reporting, “Two passengers tested positive for the coronavirus at the end of the first cruise in North America since 2020.
“Today two guests sharing a stateroom onboard Celebrity Millennium tested positive for COVID-19 while conducting the required end of cruise testing,” Celebrity Millennium cruise line said in a statement on Thursday.
“The individuals are asymptomatic and currently in isolation and being monitored by our medical team. We are conducting contact tracing, expediting testing for all close contacts and closely monitoring the situation,” the company added.
These were the only two cases on a ship with more than 600 people, at least 95 percent of whom are vaccinated, Cruzely reported.
This was the first cruise in North America since the industry got shut down last year due to the pandemic.”
Passengers on MSC Seaside cruise ship test positive for coronavirus, disembark in Sicily
USAToday.com is reporting, “Two passengers on board MSC Cruises‘ Seaside ship tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, disembarking Tuesday during a scheduled port call at Siracusa, a city in Sicily, Italy.
Both passengers were asymptomatic and tested positive during a routine test scheduled midway through the itinerary during all MSC cruises, spokesperson Paige Rosenthal told USA TODAY Wednesday.
“Immediately after testing positive, the two passengers and their traveling parties were isolated,” Rosenthal said. “Similarly, their close contacts were quickly identified and isolated.”
Passengers traveling with the two guests tested negative, as did other close contacts.
All MSC passengers are required to take a test before leaving home 48 to 96 hours before the cruise’s departure and one more before embarkation. “This was their third test,” Rosenthal said.”
All I’m saying is that I’m glad that cruises are resuming, very few cases of Covid are occurring on cruises, and that protocols seem to be working. On the other hand, over the last 12 months I’ve enjoyed experiencing Palladium Hotel Group all-inclusive resorts in Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. They are welcoming guests and don’t mandate Covid vaccinations!
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