It's sounds like the worst place to be right now — a cruise ship with a massive COVID outbreak. That's the reality for thousands aboard Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas cruise ship, which just docked in Miami. A stunning 48 passengers have tested positive for COVID-19.
Royal Caribbean said that one passenger who started feeling ill tested positive. That triggered a contact tracing protocol. From there, it was found that dozens more were also infected.
"Each person quickly went into quarantine," the cruise company said in statement to People this week. "Everyone who tested positive were asymptomatic or had mild symptoms, and we continuously monitored their health."
The cruise industry has been extraordinarily hard hit by pandemic. When COVID first started to spread across the US, many cruise ships had mass outbreaks, some of which resulted in deaths. Last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a "no-sail order."
But ocean lovers have been anxious to get back to the sea. Until recently, it seemed the pandemic was winding down. Now it seems that perhaps cruise ships started their engines too early.
Royal Caribbean has strict protocols in place, but it wasn't enough to keep the COVID numbers down. Royal Caribbean requires that all guests 12 and older be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and booster shots are "strongly recommended," its website says. Guests younger than 12 are required to undergo testing before boarding.
Of the 6,091 passengers and crew members on board, 95% were fully vaccinated. Of those who tested positive, 98% were fully vaccinated.
In addition, the crew members are required to be fully vaccinated and have received their booster shots. They undergo weekly testing, as well, and masks must be worn at all times, except when eating and drinking or "participating in strenuous activities."
It seems likely that with many businesses shutting down all over again, cruise lines may be next. While just about everyone is ready to be finished with COVID-19, the pandemic appears far from over. We can't even seem to get away from it by heading out to sea.
