A new CDC report based on data collected over several months reveals how cruise ship passengers helped spread the new coronavirus and how some outbreaks continued even after landing.
Public health officials spent significantly more hours tracking passenger contacts and cruise ship crew members than they did on flight contact investigations, reports USA Today. They tracked contacts on 11,000 passengers and crew members from the affected cruise ships.
A major problem that could have contributed to the spread of the disease after landing is the fact that not all passengers who left ships with confirmed or potential COVID-19 outbreaks were quarantined. Some did not learn until after landing about their infections, while others were asymptomatic and unaware that the virus was spreading.
From March 1 to July 10, the CDC counted 2,973 cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illnesses on cruise ships.
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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC DELAYS CONSTRUCTION OF THE LARGEST CRUISE SHIP IN THE WORLD
Cruise passengers tend to use multiple forms of travel before and after the cruise itself. Many fly to and from the port, stay in hotels, and travel on public transportation. This provided ample opportunity for travelers to become infected before boarding the ship or spread the virus after leaving the ship.
From March 1 to July 10, the CDC counted 2,973 cases of COVID-19 or COVID-like illnesses on cruise ships. There were reportedly 99 outbreaks on 123 cruises. These numbers do not include the Diamond Princess outbreak, reports USA Today.
The report also investigated concerns about the spread of the virus after ships returned to port and the danger to the coastal public.
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