Virus is detected aboard first cruise restart
A familiar COVID-19 scene is playing out off Barbados, where cruise passengers are confined to their rooms after fellow passengers tested positive for the virus.
Despite two negative PCR COVID-19 tests for each passenger prior to boarding, the captain of the SeaDream1 announcedWednesday that a passenger had tested positive on a less-reliable rapid test, four days into its sevennight voyage from Barbados. Since then, a total of six passengers have tested positive, according to Gene Sloan, a cruise writer who is on board.
The ship is currently anchored off Bridgetown as the staff conducts more tests. All 53 passengers are confined to their rooms. The ship has a double capacity of 112 passengers.
The ship is the first to resume cruises in the Caribbean since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Several travel writers are on board the ship, invited by the company to chronicle the voyage. During the first two days of the cruise, which left Barbados on Saturday, passengers and crew were not required to wear masks, according to Sloan.
“All guests were tested twice prior to embarkation and we are in the process of re-testing guests,” said SeaDream’s executive vice president Andreas Brynestad in a statement. “We are working closely with local health and government authorities to resolve this situation in the best possible way. Our main priority is the health and safety of our crew, guests, and the communities we visit.”
The company’s announcement said that all 66 crew members have tested negative.
Cruises in the U.S. remain canceled through the end of the year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its cruise ban this month and put in place phased requirements companies need to meet before they canwelcome passengers again. The agency will require weekly PCR testing of crew members, pre-boarding PCR testing for passengers and masks for all crew.
This week, the Pan American Health Organization, which serves as the Americas office for the World Health Organization, reiterated its position on testing: It does not endorse either the use of rapid antigen or PCR tests for travel.
“PAHO does not recommend the use of antigen detection tests in asymptomatic patients. In fact, it’s not recommended for travelers, who by definition should not be symptomatic at thismoment,” said Dr. Sylvain Aldighieri, PAHO’s incident manager. “And by the way, PAHO does not recommend the use of laboratory testing as the main testing for entry before travel and after arrival into the countries. It creates a false sense of security.”
Barbados Health Minister Jeffrey D. Bostic could not be reached for comment. But following the CDC’s decision this month to lift its ban on cruise ships, Bostic told the Miami Herald that he does not endorse the use of rapid tests because they “are not safe enough for border screening.”