Cruise Ship Docks in San Francisco With COVID-19 Cases

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating a cruise vessel that docked successful San Francisco connected Thursday aft a twelve vaccinated passengers tested affirmative for coronavirus.

The results followed a random investigating of 25% of the passengers aboard the 10-day cruise to Mexico and the affected individuals are either asymptomatic oregon experiencing mild symptoms, the Port of San Francisco said successful a statement.

The quality came arsenic the omicron variant drives highly precocious corruption levels successful the cruise industry, prompting the CDC to either analyse oregon observe nearly 100 vessels arsenic of Thursday. Cruise ships are required to notify the CDC of suspected oregon confirmed affirmative cases connected board, and immoderate vas with 0.10% of rider cases conscionable the criteria for investigation.

Cruise ships returned to San Francisco successful October aft a 19-month hiatus. The intermission was sparked successful March 2020 erstwhile the Grand Princess carried radical infected with the coronavirus, sending thousands of passengers to quarantine successful their cabins arsenic the vessel idled disconnected the California coast. The ill-fated cruise captured the world’s attraction and made the coronavirus existent to millions successful the United States.

When concern resumed, astir cruise lines required big passengers to amusement impervious of vaccination against COVID-19.

To day 22 cruises that person docked successful San Francisco person reported COVID-19 affirmative passengers oregon crew. All person complied with CDC and San Francisco Department of Public Health rules and protocols. No reported cases person required hospitalization oregon aesculapian care.

Due to the surge, San Francisco is besides asking cruise ships to trial passengers who person not received their 2nd doses oregon booster shots earlier letting them travel ashore.

“This request is stricter than national and authorities guidelines and is intended to support the radical of San Francisco,” larboard officials said.

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises said the vaccination complaint among guests and crews aboard the ships was “approaching 100%.” The passengers who tested affirmative volition either spell location oregon beryllium taken to hotels for quarantine, Negin Kamali said.

Another Ruby Princess cruise vessel is acceptable to depart from San Francisco Thursday day for different 10-day cruise to Mexico, she said.