News of NOLA-based Norwegian Breakaway carrying 10 COVID cases hit the Sunday news cycle looking for a bit of buzz.
The ship arrived in New Orleans on 05DEC where17 passengers and crew members were confirmed infected with COVID-19. Disembarkation took place amid operations to curb the spread to the local community.
On Sunday afternoon, Norwegian Cruise Line released a statement confirming a "handful of COVID-19 cases among guests and crew." The cruise line also said that the first 10 cases identified were asymptomatic.
"We are testing all individuals on Norwegian Breakaway prior to disembarkation, as well as providing post-exposure and quarantine public health guidance by the [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]," the cruise line said. "Any guests who have tested positive for COVID-19 will travel by personal vehicle to their personal residence or self-isolate in accommodations provided by the company."
According to WVUE-TV, the cruise line also provided passengers take-home rapid tests as they left the ship, which are intended to be taken on the third day of isolation.
Norwegian Cruise Line is currently working with the Louisiana State Health Department as well as local officials in an effort to contain the outbreak.
"We take this matter extremely seriously and will continue to work closely with the CDC, the office of Governor John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Department of Health as well as the city and port of New Orleans," Norwegian Cruise Line said.
As per Norwegian’s “Sail Safe” health policies, all guests and crew are required to be fully vaccinated at least two weeks prior to embarkation in order to cruise. Before boarding, guests are required to take a COVID-19 antigen test, which is administered and paid for by NCL, prior to boarding and must receive a negative result. Any positive antigen tests are confirmed with a follow-up PCR test.
Breakaway embarked from New Orleans on 28NOV before sailing to Belize, Honduras, and Mexico with approximately 3,200 people on board.
In the statement, NCL also said “there have been no changes to scheduled future sailings,” and that it would “provide additional updates to impacted guests as appropriate.”
