The operator of the American Constellation cruise ship said Tuesday that one of its passengers tested positive for COVID-19 shortly before the ship visited Haines and Skagway.
Officials in Haines had previously announced that passengers had been infected and were in isolation, but did not provide the number of passengers. They also advised that other passengers would be circulating in the community.
A company spokesperson for Connecticut-based American Cruise Lines says the infected passenger and two close contacts did not get off the ship in either community. All three will remain in isolation until it is safe for them to travel out of Juneau, she said.
The company says that all of its passengers and crew are required to be vaccinated on all sailings on the American Constellation. This directive has been in effect since the end of their first cruise in July of this year. All passengers are also required to obtain a negative PCR test within 72 hours of arriving at the ship, and they are tested again before they board.
If a passenger experiences COVID-like symptoms there is testing available on the ship. The next week-long trip is scheduled to depart Juneau later this week and will call on Skagway on Sunday, August 8, Haines the next day, and Petersburg on August 12.
