Coronavirus scare ship to dock in Bermuda tomorrow - Royal Gazette

News Staff

Published Feb 9, 2020 at 10:39 am (Updated Feb 9, 2020 at 11:15 am)

Anthem of the Seas on an earlier visit to Bermuda. (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

A ship at the centre of a scare over a killer strain of coronavirus is to arrive in Bermuda tomorrow.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas had four passengers taken to hospital amid fears they may have the virus after the ship returned to its home port in Bayonne, New Jersey, last Friday.

Tests later showed none had the virus.

The Ministry of Health and port authorities said this morning they were prepared for the ship’s visit to Dockyard.

A spokeswoman added: “Bermuda will apply the necessary protocols upon arrival.

“Residents should be assured that health and port authorities are prepared and equipped to deal with the vessel in accordance with our established protocols.

“Royal Caribbean has enacted their own stringent protocols with regards to the screening of passengers prior to boarding.”

The cruise line said on Friday: “None of the four guests showed any clinical signs or symptoms of coronavirus while they were on-board our ship.

“One had tested positive on-board for influenza A. Our records indicate the guests had not been in China since January 26 — 14 days ago.”

Royal Caribbean added that other passengers had been allowed to disembark as usual, but that the ship had delayed its departure for one day so the cruise line could get “conclusive test results from the US Centres for Disease Control.”

The new strain of coronavirus, which emerged in China, has infected tens of thousands of people in the country.

But 270 cases have also been recorded in another 24 nations.

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