The return of luxurious cruise ships to Dominica has been shifted to July 27. This is because of two positive cases of COVID-19 infection discovered recently among passengers of Royal Caribbean’s Celebrity Millennium cruise ship. The ship had recently cleared CDC’s regulations and returned to the sea before the coronavirus cases were detected.
The cruise ship was reportedly sailing Caribbean waters when the two passengers were found to be infected with the virus, even though they were asymptomatic. The passengers have been quarantined aboard the ship while others are being monitored for signs.
The cruise ships were earlier billed to return to Dominica on June 6, but DASPA CEO Benoit Bardouille said the government will follow the recommendations of CDC in allowing the resumption of cruise ships. It is however unknown whether the COVID-19 infection incident on the Royal Caribbean cruise ship informed the decision of the government to postpone the resumption of cruise ships to July 27.
Bardouille revealed that DASPA in conjunction with the Ministry of Health chose to postpone the return of cruise ships in order to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Dominica. He said his maritime and air agency is concerned with safeguarding the health of the nation since this would ensure the safety of the entire region.
“This is a matter of concern for the entire region,” he said. “We have to ensure that we take on measures as instructed by the Ministry of Health that will enable us to prevent, control and ensure there is no further spread of that disease utilizing the ports of entry from Dominica.”
According to the DASPA chief, updated protocols which indicate that only cruise passengers who have been fully vaccinated will be allowed to proceed ashore to the country’s tourist centers remain in place. He added that the government will constantly evaluate safety protocols and monitor foreign events to determine how to proceed with tourism activities. He said his agency is working with major stakeholders to safeguard the wellbeing of Dominicans in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
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