Coronavirus Outbreaks Inside a Norwegian Cruise Ship

But Line Vold of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health said its advice was to inform passengers and crew as soon as possible so they could monitor their health and go into quarantine if needed.

“We have made mistakes. On behalf of all of us in Hurtigruten, I am sorry for what has happened. We take full responsibility,” Skjeldam said.

The Hurtigruten line says the operations of three ships — MS Roald Amundsen, MS Fridtjof Nansen and MS Spitsbergen — have been halted for an indefinite period.

The Tromsoe-based Hurtigruten was one of the first companies to resume sailing after the pandemic hit and started cruises to Norway out of Hamburg, northern Germany, in June with a single ship.

It added cruises to Svalbard in July, Norwegian media reported.

In Italy, the Costa Crociere cruise ship line said Sunday three crew members from two ships in Civitavecchia, near Rome, have tested positive for the coronavirus.

The cruise company said two assigned to the Costa Deliziosa were hospitalized in good condition, and a third, assigned to the Costa Favolosa, was in isolation on the ship.

The Italian cruise company, which is part of Carnival Corp., said the crews of both ships were being screened "in view of the possible relaunch of our cruises, as soon as the government gives the authorization.’’

The Cabinet is meeting on the matter next Sunday.

Costa Crociere said that all crew members were tested for the virus before leaving their countries, then undergo a second test once they arrive in Italy, after which they are put under a two-week monitoring period.

Cruise lines stopped sailing in mid-March after several high-profile coronavirus outbreaks at sea.

More than 710 people fell ill aboard Carnival's Diamond Princess cruise ship while it was quarantined off Japan and 13 people died.

A German cruise ship last week set sail from Hamburg, testing procedures for how cruise ships can operate safely during the pandemic.

The ship sailed with less than 50 percent capacity and only went on a four-day trip at sea with no stops at other ports. 

(Writer: Jan M. Olsen) 

Source: https://apnews.com/781a3fa3faabde06d44749bfe57139da