The Omicron variant is fueling a new wave of COVID-19 in the nation, and it's starting to show up on cruise ships. All eligible passengers are required to be fully vaccined and all crew are also required to be fully vaccined.
Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises have all seen cases emerge aboard their vessels in the last few days. Omicron infections are suspected of causing the breakthrough, but it hasn't been determined.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun investigations into the sudden rash of cruise-ship cases because the cruise lines already have comprehensive protections in place.
CDC spokesman Dave Daigle told USA Today on Thursday that they are still learning about how it spreads, the severity of illness, and how well available vaccines and medications work against it. The agency is working with public health experts and cruise industry partners to study the strain.
To get approval from the CDC to resume sailing, cruise lines had to put in place specific health and safety protocols. They were well-prepared for such contingencies.
The photo is from the media of the MSC Cruises.
All passengers and crew who tested positive were isolated. The number of cases onboard caused some of the ships itineraries to be scrapped when their intended ports of call refused to grant them entry.
Aboard the ship, 28 fully-vaccinated passengers and crew members tested positive for the vaccine this week, which is a small percentage of the ship's population. Most of the people who tested positive are not experiencing any symptoms, though some are.
A small number of COVID-positive individuals were detected on the current sailing of Carnival Freedom, which departed Miami on December 18. The ship was turned away from two of its scheduled ports of call.
Positive test result by using a rapid test device.
AnneMarie Mathews didn't say how many cases were found aboard Carnival Freedom. When port visits are canceled, the cruise line will try to arrange docking at an alternative destination.
The Odyssey of the Seas was denied docking at its planned ports of call in Curacao and Aruba because 55 people of its guests and crew tested positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. The eight-day holiday sailing is due to return to Fort Lauderdale on Sunday, having only been able to visit one of its scheduled Caribbean destinations.
Mathews said that they are working closely with the CDC and local health authorities in all ports and destinations they visit. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant may affect how destination authorities view a small number of cases, even when they are being managed with vigorous protocols. Some destinations have limited medical resources and are focused on managing their own local response to the variant.
