A passenger tests positive for coronavirus on the first cruise ship set sail in the Caribbean since the beginning of the pandemic.
What We Know:
- The SeaDream ship had 53 passengers on board; the infection’s news came four days into a 7-day voyage. All guests were notified of the positive case by the captain and all guests were ordered to stay in their rooms.
- The ship had already finished its travels to Saint Vincent, Canouan Island, Tobago Cays, and Union Island. The voyage was expected to end November 14th, but the ship returned to Barbados early.
- Many preventative measures were put into place to limit exposure to the virus. The ship tested passengers before arrival in Barbados, and again at the pier, all results came back negative.
- When leaving the ship during stops, passengers were also allowed on empty beaches. No passengers interacted with locals.
- Masks were not required on the trip as it was believed that the extensive testing would prevent the need for such.
- It has been since March since a cruise ship has been allowed to set sail. After coronavirus outbreaks on ships in March, the beginning of the pandemic, a no-sail order was put into place. The CDC issued a “Framework for Conditional Sailing Order,” which allowed the cruise industry to reopen with safety precautions put into place.
- The ship’s coronavirus count is now up to seven passengers. Passengers who test negative twice will be able to leave the boat and travel back home.
These positive cases hurt the chances of cruise lines being able to reopen any time soon. It is unknown how soon the cruise industry can reopen.
