ABOUT 1,000 Americans are stuck on a cruise ship with a Covid outbreak after Mexico banned the vacationers from disembarking, according to reports.
The Holland America Line ship Koningsdam left San Diego Sunday bound for Mexico, but the Mexican state of Jalisco barred anyone from leaving the ship because several people tested positive for Covid.
The cruise line couldn’t be reached for comment Friday because of the Christmas holiday, but a Holland America spokesman Erik Elvejord emailed a statement to Fox 5 San Diego.
Elvejord told the local Fox outlet that the cases came in fully vaccinated crew members.
“All are showing mild or no symptoms and are in isolation,” he said. “Close contacts have been quarantined out of an abundance of caution.”
He said he couldn’t release how many positive cases there were, but the the Daily Mail reported that 21 crew members had tested positive for the virus.
The ship is heading back to San Diego and should return Sunday, according to Fox.
One of the passengers – Beverly Carver-Percival – shared her frustration on Facebook.
She said: “Well after a long trip we finally made it to Puerto Vallarta and due to Covid the Mexican Customs will not allow us to get off the ship.”
“But what beautiful trip we’ve had so far and maybe we will just make another trip out here without a cruise ship,” she wrote.
“I don’t think swearing on Facebook is allowed but the F-bomb is at the tip of my tongue.
“Merry Christmas to you all and Happy New Years.
“Much love to my dear family and friends.”
A Twitter user complimented the cruise line and how it handled the situation in a post on Thursday.
“@HALcruises your crew is taking great care of us and showing remarkable flexibility. #konigsdam,” the person tweeted.
RAMPANT OUTBREAK
Earlier this week, 48 passengers and crew members out 6,091 tested positive for Covid on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship that docked in Miami, according to a report by NPR.
That was one of three cruise ships docked in South Florida that were impacted.
“Each person quickly went into quarantine. Everyone who tested positive was asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and we continuously monitored their health,” Royal Caribbean International told NPR in a statement.
The outbreaks come as the Omicron variant quickly spreads throughout the US during the holiday season.
According to the latest CDC estimates, at least 73 percent of all new Covid cases are cause by the Omicron variant, especially in Florida which had the largest single-day increase of newly reported case since the pandemic began.
An expert has revealed the two Omicron symptoms that can strike “very rapidly” include fatigue and headaches.
