MIAMI: The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned on Thursday not to go on a cruise, regardless of their vaccination status, because of the outbreak on the ship is driven by a variant of Omicron.
The CDC says it has more than 90 cruises under investigation or observation as a result of Covid-19 case.
The agency did not disclose the number of infections.
“The virus that causes Covid-19 spreads easily among people in close quarters on the boat, and the opportunity to get Covid-19 on cruise ships are very high,” even if people are fully vaccinated and have received a booster, the CDC said.
Cruise Lines International Association said it was disappointed with the new recommendations, said the industry is devoted despite the fact follow stringent health protocols than other travel sectors.
The decision “especially puzzling considering the cases identified in the yacht consistently make a very thin minority of the total population onboard,” said a statement.
“The majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, pose little or no burden on medical resources onboard or ashore.” In March 2020, as the coronavirus which holds in the US, the CDC to curb all the cruise ship for what turned out to be 15 months.
Last June, it allows the vessel to continue sailing in the new stringent new conditions.
In August, as a variant delta soared, the agency warned people who are at risk of severe disease although vaccinated to not go on a cruise.
CDC on Thursday also recommended that passengers get tested and quarantine for five days after docking, regardless of their vaccination status and even if they have no symptoms.
Omicron has sent a surge of cases to unprecedented levels across the US, including Florida, the hub of the national shipping industry.
State set a record this week for a new daily cases, with more than 58,000 recorded on Wednesday.
US cruise line has not announced plans for the trip stop, even though the ship has been refused entry at some foreign port.
Carnival Corp.
spokesman Roger Frizzell said in an email after the CDC recommendation that the company does not have any planned changes.
“Improved health and safety protocols we have proved to be effective time and time again over the past year,” he said.
Before the announcement of the CDC, said Royal Caribbean Group said in a statement that led to cancelations omicron passenger and change the schedule, but caused “significantly milder symptoms than the previous variants.” The company said that since the US cruising waters last spring, 1.1 million guests have traveled with the cruise lines and 1,745 people have been tested positive for Covid-19, or about 0.16%.
It is said that 41 people required hospitalization, and that none of the passengers hit by omicron have been taken to hospital.
“We do not like to see even one case, but our experience is a fraction of the statistics comparable comparable locations almost every other or industry.
Some of the businesses that are subject to scrutiny as intense, regulatory and disclosure requirements by many authorities,” said Richard Fain, CEO Royal Caribbean.
Most cruise lines require an adult to show proof of vaccination against Covid-19.
Boats are allowed to relax measures such as the use of a mask if at least 95% of passengers and 95% of the crew are fully vaccinated.
Krysty Iris, 76, from Hamburg, New Jersey, and her husband was supposed to leave on a 10 day Caribbean cruise this January 19.
The latest CDC warning leaves tourists like they are in a bind unfair, he said.
Krysty told Thursday they could only get a refund if they test positive before the trip.
So, they will go to avoid losing thousands of dollars – the decision of their daughter and son-in-law were not happy with.
“I know they’re angry about us going but it was a lot of money for us to lose,” says Krysty.
“As far as we know, we are going and hope we’ll be OK.” Janine Calfo, 55, of Salt Lake City, postponing a four-day Carnival cruise out of Long Beach, California, to Ensenada, Mexico, earlier this month when he got a case of the breakthrough of Covid-19 three days prior to departure.
She rebooked voyage to February and is still set to go.
“This is my own personal opinion, but it seems omicron burns will be faster,” said Calfo, the asthma and plans to get a booster in a few weeks.
“My Cruise is more than 40 days.” He added, though: “I think I will plan to get travel insurance this time.”