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25 people on board the Kiel ferry have been quarantined in their cabins. It started with two employees feeling ill.
The Color Line ships sail cruise passengers between Oslo and Kiel. But there were few shows and purchases for 16 of them, which had to be quarantined in the cabins. Photo: Krister Sørbø / NTB scanpix
On Wednesday night, two restaurant employees aboard the Kiel ferry MS “Color Magic” developed symptoms of a respiratory infection. The ship was heading from Oslo to Kiel.
This would have consequences for 16 unfortunate passengers who were on a cruise for fun.
– They both reported that they felt bad. We take immediate action, says Helge Otto Mathisen, Color Line’s Executive Vice President of Communications and Public Relations.
– The two employees were quarantined in their cabin. There were also seven other employees who had been in close contact with them.
16 passengers were also defined as close contacts.
– In consultation with the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), all were put in a hut until the situation was clarified, says Mathisen.
– We immediately took action when employees reported they were feeling unwell, says Helge Otto Mathisen, executive vice president of communications and public relations for Color Line. Photo: Color line
I got help in Kiel
Passengers of the “Color Magic” are on board for the entire trip without landing in Kiel now during the pandemic. But the German health authorities were contacted and the rapid tests were taken on board.
– All nine employees were negative in the first test. They wait until Friday night for the result of Test # 2 before they can leave the cabins, says Mathisen.
– FHI does not anticipate an imminent risk of infection.
The 16 passengers have not been screened, but in consultation with FHI, they will remain in their cabins until the ship docks on Friday morning. It is not yet clear how they will be followed up.
According to Mathisen, FHI recommends that employees take a proper exam when they land in Oslo on Friday at 10 o’clock.
– How did the passengers react to being locked inside the cabins while on a cruise ship?
– They took it very well. They’re offered new rides or a ticket refund, and they’re well cared for in their serviced cabins and all, says Mathisen.
– If the rapid tests prove to be a good indication of infection, it is a great advantage for us to use them on board.
