At the start of the pandemic, multiple cruise lines made headlines for having passengers or crew members on board who tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, the cruise lines were forced to either dock at the nearest port or delay their trips. The struggle continues, with a Royal Caribbean International cruise delaying its inaugural sailing of the Odyssey of the Seas cruise ship after eight crew members tested positive for COVID-19. But the twist is that all eight members who tested positive were vaccinated, officials said Tuesday, according to NBC News.
In a statement posted to Facebook Tuesday, President and CEO of Royal Caribbean Michael Bayley said the situation was “two steps forward and one step back.” All crew members were to be fully vaccinated by June 18; however, before the date of departure could arrive, at least eight tested positive, two with mild symptoms and six who were asymptomatic. Bayley noted that the “positive cases were identified after the vaccination was given and before they were fully effective.”
All eight have quarantined and are being closely monitored by a medical team, but the company has delayed the ship’s first trip from July 3 to July 31 in order for all crew members to observe quarantine and prevent further infection.“While disappointing, this is the right decision for the health and well-being of our crew and guests,” Bayley said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) it is rare for people to test positive for COVID-19 after being fully vaccinated, but not impossible. Such cases are known as breakthrough infections. Out of more than 130 million people who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus in the U.S., only 10,262 have reported breakthrough infections, the CDC said in May, NBC News reported.
While many Republican governors are against companies requiring passengers to prove they have been vaccinated, the CDC and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission support their ability to do so. While Royal Caribbean has set up guidelines for its cruises, including it being mandatory for all guests over 16 to be fully vaccinated, the rules do not apply in Florida. Florida’s exception follows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order that bans companies from asking people for proof of vaccination. …
