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CANCELED: Although the cruise company had recently detected an infection among employees, they chose to complete the departure to Kiel as planned on Saturday. Soon after, three employees on board developed symptoms and tested positive. Photo: Vidar Ruud, NTB
Several Color Line Magic employees have tested positive for coronavirus. They are on board the ship along with 900 passengers.
On Saturday night, it emerged that another employee aboard Color Line Magic was diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Five days earlier, four employees from the same ship had also tested positive. These were no longer on board the ship when the company decided to launch against Kiel on December 26 and the crew on board tested negative.
Soon after, two more new employees tested positive, while the ship is still at sea.
This means that there are now three infected on the ship. About 900 passengers will also be on board the cruise ship, which arrives in Oslo on Monday morning at 10 am.
Now the company has decided to cancel all its ships in the coming days due to the persistent outbreak of infection among the ship’s crew, the Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Relations, Helge Otto Mathisen, confirms to VG.
Initially, the company has chosen to cancel departures between December 28 and 30.
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THE BEACH: Color Line Magic will be on land until January 3. Photo: Ørn E. Borgen, NTB
Chose to navigate despite infection among employees
The crew that tested positive are now on their way from Kiel to Oslo. They must have been evaluated during the trip based on symptoms.
– Both passengers and infection control authorities have been notified of the situation, the company says in a press release.
Infection control authorities had tested the entire crew on the trip before deciding to go ahead as planned.
– However, when positive samples have been developed, Color Line wants to be careful to cancel trips in the next few days, says Mathisen.
– What do you think about this in light of hindsight? Was it safe to navigate?
– Yes, we definitely mean it. When everyone has been tested and everyone is negative, then it should be possible to go. All routines are followed, and they are quite strict, Mathisen responds and adds:
– Those infected and their close contacts must now be quarantined.
However, Mathisen does not want to answer how many close contacts are in question, but claims that these are also continuously tested.
– Does that mean you are still waiting for some test results and can you get more positive tests?
– Yes, but all close contacts are already isolated. So far, no one else has tested positive.
Planning a new departure on January 3
None of the passengers on board the ship are now defined as close contacts, according to Mathisen.
He points out that the ship has good infection control routines that cater to both guests and crew, and that both employees and guests are required to wear face masks on board the ship.
– How have employees and guests been treated in this situation?
– We believe that we have done what we could, also with the employees. We don’t want to put anyone at risk, says Mathisen.
The next scheduled departure is January 3. All people who have booked a trip that has now been canceled will be offered a new trip or a ticket refund, the company states.
– What do you need to complete your departure on January 3?
– We go over everything one more time and make the decision accordingly. Then we will have extra time to clarify the situation, says Mathisen.
