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A ship is docked at the Frederiksted Pier in Dec. 2015. By. ERNICE GILBERT FOR VI CONSORTIUM
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued its starkest warning against cruise ship travel yet, stating in its latest update that "all people avoid travel on cruise ships, including river cruises, worldwide, because the risk of COVID-19 on cruise ships is very high."
The CDC added, "It is especially important that people with an increased risk of severe illness avoid travel on cruise ships."
The warning comes as Covid-19 cases are currently at their highest levels in the U.S., with more than 12 million infections and over 250,000 deaths. According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. hospitalizations topped 83,000 as of Nov. 20, with some hospitals warning they were "reaching the edge of the knife." Daily U.S. infections dropped to 171,552 on Saturday.
The warning also calls into question cruise lines' desire to restart cruising in the coming months, with some companies, including Disney, already canceling cruise voyages through January. The changes are bound to affect the USVI, especially the West Indian Company, which announced its plan to start receiving cruise ships by the beginning of 2021.
In its latest warning, the CDC said cruise passengers are at increased risk of person-to-person spread of infectious diseases. It also recommended that passengers who decide to go on a cruise get tested 3-5 days after the trip, and stay home for 7 days after travel. "Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days," the CDC recommended. "If you don't get tested, it's safest to stay home for 14 days after you travel."
