ATHENS, Greece – The Greek government said Monday that 12 team members of a Maltese-flag cruise ship sent a stopover to a Greek island with more than 1,500 people on board who tested positive for coronavirus and were moved remotely aboard the Mein Schiff 6, operated through TUI. Cruises
But until Tuesday afternoon, the 12 team members had tested negative 3 times, with a PCR control administered across the cruise line and back with an immediate antigen check performed through the Greek government and once back with a PCR control administered through the Greek government. which indicates that negative control would possibly have been a false positive.
The cruise line called the stage a “false alarm” and said there were no cases of COVID-19 aboard the Mein Schiff 6, as the Greek government showed on Tuesday, the line said. in a proportionate through Godja Sonnichsen, TUI’s director of communications.
“The remedy of the unclear effects of the check of the team members reported yesterday confirms once again the processes agreed with the government for the resumption of cruise activities and demonstrates that cruise ships are imaginable at the time of Corona,” TUI continued.
The Mein Schiff 6 began its adventure towards Heraklion, in the south of the Greek island of Crete on Sunday night, with 922 passengers and 666 team members on board, the Greek Ministry of Transport announced monday. the country’s main port near the Greek capital, Athens, and later the western island of Corfu.
He added that all team members are evaluated before boarding and isolated for 14 days on board before they can work.
Passengers had been checked by coronavirus before boarding and were part of the control sample.
“During the early precautionary system, onboard equipment is also checked for COVID-19,” S-nnichsen said. Coronavirus screening was performed on 150 of the team members, the ministry said, and 12 of them tested positive. Verification was a PCR check, Sonnichsen said, but it is not known why there was such a high rate of false positives. “None of the 12 team members show any symptoms. “
Dr. Robert H. Shmerling, editor-in-chief of Harvard Health Publishing, wrote that the rate of negative false molecular testing (PCR) levels ranges from 2% to 37%. But false positives are rarer and probably in 5% of cases. instances or less.
“Thanks to extensive hygiene measures and on-board clearance regulations, there is no explanation as to why passengers and equipment should be concerned,” S-nnichsen said.
No passengers were affected and therefore none underwent additional testing, according to an exchange through Sabine Lueke, TUI’s communications manager, on Tuesday.
“I would like to thank all the governments guilty for their intelligent and professional cooperation in relation to the unclear control effects aboard the Mein Schiff 6, and I am pleased that the adventure can continue for all passengers with shore excursions to Piraeus,” Wybcke Meier. CEO of TUI Cruises, said in the statement.
TUI Cruises is located in Germany and is a joint venture between the German tourism company TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Group.
Contribution: Julia Thompson, USA TODAY; Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, The Associated Press