A cruise ship carrying at least 800 passengers infected with COVID-19 arrived in Sydney, Australia from New Zealand, multiple sources reported.
The Majestic Princess of Princess Cruises, a part of the Carnival Company, was carrying greater than 3,000 passengers and 1,000 crewmembers in accordance with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Marguerite Fitzgerald, the president of cruise operator Carnival Australia, informed the BBC that every one the instances have been both asymptomatic or gentle.
“Reflective of the rise in neighborhood transmissions, we too have seen extra company check constructive for COVID-19 on the present voyage of Majestic Princess. This can be a results of mass testing of our 3,300 company,” Fitzgerald said.
As Florida’s numbers begin to rise again, must you be fascinated with canceling that cruise?
The Majestic Princess:Princess cruise ship with at least 800 positive COVID-19 cases docks in Australia
Not fairly a surge:Florida COVID cases rising again as BQ subvariants of omicron spread
Is Florida seeing one other COVID surge?
Not but, no. Cases appear to be on a slight upswing as we head into chilly and flu season with the best weekly addition final week for the reason that final week of September when new omicron variants have been spreading. But it surely’s nonetheless a a lot slower rise than earlier variant-fueled surges.
A number of new omicron variants have popped up akin to BQ.1, BF.7, and BN.1, they usually make up a lot of the COVID infections throughout the southeastern United States now, however they don’t seem to be wherever close to as prevalent as what we noticed over the summer time with BA.4 and BA.5. The so-called “nightmare” omicron variant, XBB, stays uncommon in Florida.
This does not imply you’ll be able to’t catch it, nonetheless.
What are the COVID testing necessities for Florida cruises?
Most main cruise traces have dropped their necessities for vaccinated company or are about to.
Royal Caribbean Worldwide is now not requiring pre-cruise testing on most sailings, according to its website.
Friends 12 and older who usually are not absolutely vaccinated on cruises from the US and the Caribbean with stops in Colombia, Haiti or Honduras have to take a check inside three days earlier than their cruise. All passengers 2 and older crusing from Australia additionally have to check previous to boarding, as do these 5 and up on transatlantic cruises. The day you set sail isn’t counted as one of many days.
As of Monday, November 14, Disney Cruise Line will now not require testing no matter vaccination standing for sailings from the U.S., according to its website. They nonetheless extremely suggest that you just get vaccinated.
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Main traces together with Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Virgin Voyages additionally removed all remaining testing and vaccination requirements for a lot of voyages in latest weeks.
“Nonetheless, regardless of vaccination standing, we encourage all company 5 years and older to check three days previous to their cruise,” Carnival spokesperson Matt Lupoli informed USA TODAY in an emailed assertion.
There aren’t any testing necessities for entering Mexico from the U.S.
With relaxed COVID tips, is it protected to take a cruise?
That is as much as you, your degree of consolation, and your personal medical scenario.
Touring by cruise will expose you to different folks in an enclosed location for lengthy durations of time, not an incredible factor for easily-spread respiratory viruses. Fortuitously, the immunity from being absolutely vaccinated appears to have helped arrest the unfold.
When you have a weakened immune system, nonetheless, or are at elevated danger for extreme illness, otherwise you’re touring with somebody with these danger components, it is best to discuss to your healthcare supplier first.
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Don’t journey or board a cruise ship when you examined constructive for COVID-19 less than 10 days ago. Observe the CDC recommendations for isolation. For those who have been uncovered to an individual with COVID prior to now 10 days, get examined your self at the very least 5 full days after the final publicity and wear a high-quality mask around other people.
What can I do to keep away from COVID on a cruise?
Initially, rise up up to now in your vaccinations and boosters, significantly the latest bivalent booster that assaults the variants in addition to the unique coronavirus pressure.
Contemplate carrying an N95 or other high-quality mask in crowded settings, particularly indoors. Dr. Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor of epidemiology and drugs at Columbia College’s Mailman Faculty of Public Well being, recommends vacationers put on the highest-quality masks they’ll get that they’ll tolerate. “If you cannot tolerate (it), you are going to take it off,” she mentioned.
Spend as a lot time as you’ll be able to outdoor and away from crowds.
Convey speedy exams with you in case you (or somebody round you) begin displaying signs.
“I really feel like for somebody who’s immunosuppressed or produce other extreme comorbidities that aren’t well-controlled, I feel it behooves them to do no matter they’ll inside cause to guard themselves, whereas on the identical time having fun with all of the pleasures of journey,” El-Sadr mentioned.
You might wish to think about getting travel insurance that covers well being care and emergency evacuation, particularly when you’re touring to distant areas.
Contributors: Nathan Diller, USA TODAY; Chris Persaud, Palm Seashore Put up
C. A. Bridges is a Digital Producer for the USA TODAY Community, working with a number of newsrooms throughout Florida. Native journalists work arduous to maintain you knowledgeable concerning the stuff you care about, and you may help them by subscribing to your local news organization. Read more articles by Chris here and comply with him on Twitter at @cabridges
