According to a report from Forbes, at least 27 people tested positive for the COVID-19 virus on a Carnival cruise ship. Departing from Galveston, TX, the cruise ship was departing for Belize City, Belize. Notably, 26 of the positive tests were from crew members and 1 was from a passenger. In this blog post, our Houston cruise ship injury attorneys explain what we know about the outbreak and provide an overview of the cruise ship obligation to keep passengers safe.
A COVID-19 Outbreak on a Carnival Vista Cruise Ship
In August of 2021, a commercial cruise ship left the Port of Galveston carrying approximately 2,900 passengers and 1,400 crew members. According to official information provided by the government authorities, 96.5% of the passengers and 99.8% of the crewmembers had received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Nonetheless, the Carnival cruise liner suffered a COVID-19 outbreak on its way to Belize City. The Tourism Board of Belize reports that 27 people aboard the cruise ship—all but one a member of the crew—testing positive for the COVID-19 virus. Fortunately, no one who tested positive for COVID-19 aboard the ship required emergency medical attention.
Passenger Cruises are Sailing for U.S. Ports—COVID-19 Safety Regulations are in Place
After being grounded for many months due to the COVID-19 outbreak, commercial passenger cruise ships are once again setting sail from U.S. ports, including in Texas. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has put a number of different public health guidelines in place to help ensure that major commercial cruise companies protect their passengers and their employees from the virus. Here are three key things to know about the COVID-19 cruise ship regulations:
- Cruise ship operators must have a viable plan of action in place to deal with the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak during operations;
- Cruise ship operators must be able to demonstrate full compliance with public safety requirements, including social distancing rules and quarantine rules; and
- Cruise ship operators must have proper public health and safety protocols in place for their employees.
Notably, in late August, the CDC also issued public health recommendations advising older and immunocompromised people to avoid cruises for the time being due to the additional risk posed by the Delta variant. Evidence suggests that the Delta variant of the COVID-19 virus is more infectious.
Call Our Houston, TX Cruise Ship Injury Attorneys for Immediate Help
At the Kolodny Law Firm, our Houston cruise ship accident lawyers are here to protect your rights and get you financial compensation to pay your medical bills. If you have questions about COVID_19 exposure and cruise ship liability, we are here to help. Call us now or connect with us online for a free review of your injury or illness claim. With a law office in Houston, we handle cruise ship passenger injury claims in Texas and throughout the Gulf Coast region.
Alan Kolodny is committed to representing injured clients in Texas and throughout the United States. Alan earned his B.A. from Rice University and his J.D. from Southern Methodist University.
He focuses his practice on representing plaintiffs in personal injury cases involving the following matters: maritime and offshore accidents, including those under the Jones Act; automobile and 18-wheeler truck accidents; and industrial site accidents, work-related accidents, and claims for injured railroad workers under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act.
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