Coronavirus Regal Princess: Crew Previously On Grand Princess Test Negative

Two crew members who were previously onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship that was held off the coast of San Francisco last week have tested negative of the novel coronavirus. The said crew members moved to the Regal Princess, which was also held off for hours.

According to FOX News, the Regal Princess was held off the coast of Florida for hours on Sunday after coronavirus tests were taken. The tests were carried out amid concerns that some crew members may have contracted the COVID-19 strain.

The employees who were tested for potential coronavirus infection transferred to the Regal Princess more than two weeks ago. They were from the Grand Princess cruise ship that has since confirmed 19 crew members who contracted the disease.

As of Sunday evening, the Regal Princess was finally allowed to dock in Port Everglades, as local media reported.

After hours of waiting of cruising around the coast of Florida, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finally cleared the Regal Princess to enter the port.

Operator Princess Cruises said that the cruise line believes the two crew members do not pose risks to anyone who was aboard the cruise ship since their respiratory symptoms were not similar to those seen in coronavirus patients.

Meanwhile, the Grand Princess is set to dock at the Port of Oakland on Monday after days of cruising around the coast of San Francisco.

According to CNN, ship Capt. John Harry Smith said the time of arrival is unclear as of the moment but he noted that the cruise line will cooperate with the federal government to determine what time the disembarking of passengers will begin.

Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Dr. Anthony Fauci said that a step-by-step process will be followed in disembarking passengers of the Grand Princess.

The most vulnerable passengers will be allowed to exit the ship first, including children and people who have underlying health problems. Fauci added that people who need help will be prioritized and those who need to fly to their destinations will be assisted.

Meanwhile, authorities have warned Americans against cruising in the meantime following the confirmation that 21 people onboard the Grand Princess tested positive of the novel coronavirus.

The State Department released an advisory on Sunday, urging U.S. citizens to avoid going onboard cruise ships in the meantime to prevent further COVID-19 infections in the country, Bloomberg reported.

There have been earlier concerns about cruise ships potentially carrying the novel coronavirus weeks after the Diamond Princess that docked in Yokohama saw one of the biggest outbreaks outside China.