The US State Department issued a warning this afternoon about cruise travel for US citizens, especially those with existing health conditions.
“American citizens, particularly those with previous health conditions should not travel on cruises,” they published on their website.
As they stand out, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted an increase in the risk of contracting the coronavirus (Covid-19) in those on cruise ships.
“To prevent the spread of the virus, many countries have implemented strict revision measures and denied the entry of ships to their ports and the disembarkation of passengers. In other cases, passengers have been allowed to disembark, but they have been quarantined, ”they said in their publication.
That entity said that in addition to not traveling on cruise ships, such people at risk should avoid trips that are not essential, get away from crowded places, avoid long trips by plane and that if they have separate trips, they should contact the companies of cruise. You can also contact your travel agent or who booked your vacation.
The news did not surprise members of the travel industry, considering it had already been discussed on the subject. “That speaks particularly of people with pre-existing conditions and that has been said since day one, what just left the State Department is not new and specifies that it is for those types of people,” said Daphne Barbeito, president of Cruises To Go and spokesman for the Tourist Alliance for Puerto Rico.
“These people must protect themselves more than everyone else and that is not only for the coronavirus, but for any communicable disease, but I have to admit that I am concerned about the lack of information or the wrong message that many travelers are having. This does not imply that people should not travel on cruises as a general measure, ”said the expert.
Barbeito said the cruise industry is one in which it is continually being learned, and in which best practices are implemented every day.
“After the case of the Diamond Princess in Asia, where the first cruise passengers were infected, a lot has been learned, and we are already seeing it with what is happening with the ship that is now in California,” he said referring to Grand passengers Princess awaiting approval to disembark after 21 positive cases of coronavirus were detected on board.
“I find it curious that only these cases are occurring on Princess Cruises ships, since today the Regal Princess is also in Ft. Lauderdale waiting to be approved for landing, although no case of coronavirus has been confirmed ”He explained. According to her, the daily capacity of cruise passengers is more than half a million people and the amount of infected and mortality from coronavirus is negligible.
“Of course we do not want anyone to die or get sick, we all know that in the industry, but the passenger must be informed and analyze the data. The recommendations I can give are the ones we have been emphasizing. When people are going to travel, they must carry their medicines, disinfectant wipes in wallet-sized packages and use them continuously, hand sanitizers and use common sense measures, in addition to getting vaccinated against influenza, ”said Barbeito who invited travelers To follow the recommendations of their experts, visit their doctors if they have doubts and follow the basic rule of washing their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
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