Protocols for Opening Up Cruising - Physicians' Perspective

[SeaHunt]

On 6/1/2020 at 3:45 PM, voljeep said:

musta missed that … is that in stone ?  … is Princess one of those brands ?   any link appreciated ...

 

Maybe this from a couple weeks ago - thinking the employees mentioned in California might be Princess and Washington state might be HAL:

 

Carnival Corp., the world’s largest cruise company, announced on Thursday it will be laying off hundreds of employees due to the coronavirus pandemic.

 

The company’s CEO Arnold Donald said the combination of layoffs, furloughs and pay cuts were “necessary” as the pause on cruise travel enters its third month.

 

The majority of affected employees in the U.S. will be in Florida, California and Washington state, Carnival Corp. said in an email. The company is eliminating 820 positions and furloughing 537 employees for up to six months in Florida out of a workforce of about 3,000 employees.

 

Carnival Corp. did not reveal the number of job eliminations in the other states or countries around the world.

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2020/05/15/carnival-lay-off-hundreds-florida-other-states/5197141002/

 

Carnival Lays Off Almost 1,000 Workers in Florida, With More Layoffs Coming in Other States

Employees in California and Washington will also be terminated.

 

https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/15/carnival-lays-off-almost-1000-workers-in-florida-w.aspx

[donaldsc]

Call me cynical but the cruise lines will do the absolute minimum that their lawyers and the relevant government agencies will force them to do.  No more and if they think that they can get away with it - less.  Medical people will have much less influence than their accountants.

 

DON

[caribill]

What NCL is doing in the medical area:

 

ENHANCED SCREENING PROTOCOLS

All guests will undergo an enhanced pre-embarkation health screening, and those considered at risk will undergo additional screening. Additionally, all crew will undergo extensive screening prior to embarkation and constant monitoring throughout the voyage. Touchless temperature checks and continuous monitoring of guests and crew throughout the voyage will help identify potential health issues, offering an additional layer of prevention and protection.

• Temperature Screenings
  Touchless temperature checks will occur:
  • Prior to embarkation
  • Upon returning to the ship from a port of call
  • Prior to all meals in dining venues
  • Prior to all activities in public venues
  • Prior to disembarkation
• Crew Screenings
  A healthy crew helps ensure healthy guests. Constant monitoring of crew health includes temperature checks multiple times per day as well as rigid sanitation protocols
  
  We’re enhancing our existing Pre-Employment Medical Examination process, which already screens for a wide variety of infectious diseases, to ensure the health and safety of our crew. We’re exploring on board testing capabilities that will allow crew members to undergo the latest, most advanced form of COVID-19 testing at any time throughout their employment contract.

 

ENHANCED MEDICAL RESOURCES

Onboard medical centers will be fully equipped with the latest testing kits and medical supplies. We are also increasing our medical team fleetwide. Additionally, each ship has dedicated isolation accommodations should the need arise.

• Testing kits and medical supplies include:
  • Advanced on-site rapid diagnostic testing for COVID-19
  • Increased inventory of medical oxygen equipment
  • Increased inventory of vaccinations
  • Increased inventory of medication to treat COVID-19
• Enhanced health & safety trainings and continued education for crew members
• We will begin to introduce a newly created onboard position of Public Health Officer, responsible for the oversight of all sanitation and outbreak prevention initiatives. Additionally, they will monitor the day-to-day cleanliness of all public areas and accommodations, maintaining compliance with the CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program.

 

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/book-with-confidence

[brisalta]

26 minutes ago, caribill said:

What NCL is doing in the medical area:

 

ENHANCED SCREENING PROTOCOLS

All guests will undergo an enhanced pre-embarkation health screening, and those considered at risk will undergo additional screening. Additionally, all crew will undergo extensive screening prior to embarkation and constant monitoring throughout the voyage. Touchless temperature checks and continuous monitoring of guests and crew throughout the voyage will help identify potential health issues, offering an additional layer of prevention and protection.

• Temperature Screenings
  Touchless temperature checks will occur:
•  
•  
•  
• Crew Screenings
  A healthy crew helps ensure healthy guests. Constant monitoring of crew health includes temperature checks multiple times per day as well as rigid sanitation protocol

https://www.ncl.com/why-cruise-norwegian/book-with-confidence

 

NIce theatre but not realistic as it has now been show that people can be infected but totally asymptomatic without even a temperature but spreading viral particles!!!

 

What is needed are rapid biological tests and the qualified personnel and equipment/reagents to carry them out.

[caribill]

1 minute ago, brisalta said:

 

NIce theatre but not realistic as it has now been show that people can be infected but totally asymptomatic without even a temperature but spreading viral particles!!!

 

What is needed are rapid biological tests and the qualified personnel and equipment/reagents to carry them out.

 

Unfortunately, one can be recently infected but not have had enough time to develop enough of the virus to be detected by any test.

[gmjc2]

There is also the " too much trouble and I am too busy " protocol!

Spent 2 hrs in a auto shop waiting for our truck. --out of 16 people coming and going only 2 wore masks and none kept 6 ft apart. The employee wore no mask as he said  " I think I have already had it" No one sanitized the bathroom or the counter/pay machine at any time. 

The cruise ships will spout all kinds of safety protocols but will they actually be implemented on a consistent basis?  We will go back to cruising in Dec if sailing but we will take care of our own "protocols" Armed with masks, gloves and disinfectant wipes. No crowded elevators- wait for the next one. Plan ahead for everything. It will not be as relaxing but we have survived 54 cruises without Norovirus so we can do this.

[mnocket]

12 hours ago, brisalta said:

 

NIce theatre but not realistic as it has now been show that people can be infected but totally asymptomatic without even a temperature but spreading viral particles!!!

 

What is needed are rapid biological tests and the qualified personnel and equipment/reagents to carry them out.

 

IMHO the ONLY measure of the safety of cruising in the COVID world is empirical data once cruising resumes.  Those who are willing to sail on the inaugural cruises will provide the hard data that allows the rest of us to judge the true safety of sailing once again.   No amount of regulations, policies, practices, etc. can replace this hard data on efficacy. 

[Tucker in Texas]

On 6/3/2020 at 2:16 AM, brisalta said:

 

NIce theatre but not realistic as it has now been show that people can be infected but totally asymptomatic without even a temperature but spreading viral particles!!!

 

What is needed are rapid biological tests and the qualified personnel and equipment/reagents to carry them out.

Here in Houston we had a protest/demonstration for home town man, George Floyd with 60,000 people crammed together and few wearing masks.  Our County Judge  who has been keeping us advised throughout about the virus wasn't happy about it but knew there was no way to avoid it..  Hence, she strongly.  suggested that all those attending get tested BUT wait for at least five days before doing it as it takes that long to test positive.  In the meantime, who have those that test positive infected?  

Edited June 5, 2020 by Tucker in Texas

[dog]

On 6/3/2020 at 3:22 PM, mnocket said:

 

IMHO the ONLY measure of the safety of cruising in the COVID world is empirical data once cruising resumes.  Those who are willing to sail on the inaugural cruises will provide the hard data that allows the rest of us to judge the true safety of sailing once again.   No amount of regulations, policies, practices, etc. can replace this hard data on efficacy. 

My opinions too. 
Really don’t know what to expect before my next 2 cruises: Jan 2021 & April 2021.