HURTIGRUTEN has confirmed 36 crew members and one passenger aboard Roald Amundson have tested positive to coronavirus.
Following the news, travellers on Hurtigruten’s two most recent voyages to Svalbard have been ordered to self-quarantine, with the guest who tested positive having travelled on the voyage which departed on 17 Jul.
Initially, four crew members, who were unwell with “non-coronavirus symptoms”, tested positive, with subsequent testing returning 32 additional positives among the 158 crew members.
The initial four infected are now in hospital, while the ship remains docked in Tromso along with the remainder of the crew members, all of whom are asymptomatic.
Roald Amundson’s upcoming departure has been cancelled, with the next cruise aboard the ship not scheduled until Sep.
Hurtigruten is in contact with about 400 guests from the two voyages, assisting them with transport, accommodation, food and other needs.
“We are now focusing all available efforts in taking care of our guests and colleagues,” said VP Global Communications Rune Thomas Ege.
“We work closely with the Norwegian national and local health authorities for follow-up, information, further testing, and infection tracking.”
32 of the 34 confirmed cases are from the Philippines, and all of the line’s overseas crew members were required to submit two negative tests before leaving their home country to join the ship.
Hurtigruten became one of the first lines to restart cruising, just over six weeks ago (TD 12 May).
The post Hurti hit by coronavirus appeared first on Travel Daily.
Source: traveldaily