Princess reinstating covid protocols?

[insidecabin]

3 hours ago, wowzz said:

 

Sorry, I was not clear. Ideally you should quarantine for 5 days from your first negative test (although this is not compulsory) and once this period has passed, quarantine is no longer recommended, even if you still test positive.   

 

England: the guidance now is similar to that of any respiratory symptoms.

 

Quarantine  isolation  no longer used.

 

The message now is try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.

 

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

 

IF tested positive then think about avoiding from people for 5 days and a bit longer if still not well.

 

Under 18 its 3 days, but testing is only recommended if a healthcare advises so most kids just carry on unless not well enough to go to school.

 

 

 

.

[Mary Ann 2]

On 5/13/2022 at 10:20 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

I asked the Sabatini maitre d’ this morning, as this was our last day eating breakfast there, and he told us from what he’s heard there have been only 2 passengers diagnosed with C19 on this cruise. There were also 2 crew members that tested positive when they initially came onboard in SF and were immediately quarantined for 14 days.

I was on this cruise and would be interested in knowing how many tested themselves and were positive after being home a few days. I heard several conversations about people having "colds."  DH and I both have COVID-19, and we had both boosters, were pretty careful, wore masks, and never went to a show!  

Edited May 16, 2022 by Mary Ann 2

[stevenr597]

On 5/15/2022 at 11:23 AM, wowzz said:

But which can only be prescribed to certain patients - it should not be issued to everybody, just because they have covid.

Indicated for "High Risk Patients"   It is not, as of yet, indicated for healthy middle aged patients with no medical conditions. 

[USCcruisecrazy]

On 5/15/2022 at 9:54 AM, wowzz said:

I was just saying that you do not need to lock yourself away in a hotel room. Quite easy to mask up and travel without spreading the virus.

That's a great point.  If the masks actually work, then testing positive should just mean you have to wear the mask if in public and you can't eat or drink in public.  Why be stuck in a room...if the masks work!!!

[Tedferg]

On 5/15/2022 at 8:18 AM, wowzz said:

In fact, the UK government official advice is that you only need to quarantine for five days after first testing positive.

This contradicts your earlier statement about no quarantine even if positive.

[PhotoGal07]

36 minutes ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

That's a great point.  If the masks actually work, then testing positive should just mean you have to wear the mask if in public and you can't eat or drink in public.  Why be stuck in a room...if the masks work!!!

This logic is problematic because it forces masking to be either 100% effective of 0% effective.   Along the lines of "if seat belts work, why do we need air bags?".  Masking is effective, but it is not 100%.  Like most other risk-based scenarios, it is best if we use the swiss cheese model of risk prevention.  Masking helps prevent a lot of spread, but it is best used in conjuction with isolation for a few days, symptom monitoring, vaccines, etc.  The whole point is not to depend on just one thing to manage a problem.  Humans make mistakes, they were ill-fitting masks, they get uncomfortable and take it off or let it only cover their mouth (not their nose), they think it's ok if I "just" remove it to take a sip of this drink for one second.  Isolation if you are sick absolutely makes sense at this juncture.

[USCcruisecrazy]

1 minute ago, PhotoGal07 said:

This logic is problematic because it forces masking to be either 100% effective of 0% effective.   Along the lines of "if seat belts work, why do we need air bags?".  Masking is effective, but it is not 100%.  Like most other risk-based scenarios, it is best if we use the swiss cheese model of risk prevention.  Masking helps prevent a lot of spread, but it is best used in conjuction with isolation for a few days, symptom monitoring, vaccines, etc.  The whole point is not to depend on just one thing to manage a problem.  Humans make mistakes, they were ill-fitting masks, they get uncomfortable and take it off or let it only cover their mouth (not their nose), they think it's ok if I "just" remove it to take a sip of this drink for one second.  Isolation if you are sick absolutely makes sense at this juncture.

Awesome diagram...but you missed my very simple point...people are arguing that the spread can be stopped by wearing masks on the ships.  If that is true, then the person that tests positive with no symptoms should be able to travel the ship with a mask on.  Of course, the premise is false (that we some how wouldn't have the issue of spread with masks on) so the real answer is that we treat COVID just like the flu or Noro.  If you have symptoms, you quarantine.  If not, you don't even get tested.

[Tedferg]

1 hour ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

  If that is true, then the person that tests positive with no symptoms should be able to travel the ship with a mask on.

Asymptomatic can still shed virus and so cause infection. Symptoms relate to how your body reacts and what level of viral load you have. Testing positive says you are carrying the virus. Of course, there are false positives, but better safe than sorry. Clearly fewer people are not on ventilators and in mortuaries now.

[Oceansaway17]

On 5/15/2022 at 8:48 AM, Musky Ike said:

If some of you could just back off on the perfume a bit, I wouldn't be sneezing nearly as much. 🤧

funny it is a lot of the staff on ships who wear cologne too as they work and try to stay fresh.  OMG I hard every perfume and cologne etc of any kind.  Gentle as you go I say

[Steelers36]

It is interesting to read accounts on this thread and others where guests who wore masks all the time and took plenty of Covid precautions still got it.  Now, I realize some anecdotal reports don't mean much, except it would be interesting if we had the stats of the total case hatched on board, how many were doing all the precautions they could think of and others were living the normal life. 

 

Of course, that last statistic would be of interest in general society these days as some of us are back to pre-2020 and others choose to continue taking additional precautions. 

 

Although we cannot back up in time with the same group of folks in the same circumstance and relax protocols on more people, one might assume there would be more cases if the cautious set had also dropped their personal protocols.  IDK, but it is clear that a guest who is fully vaccinated and boosted and follows all Covid protocols can catch the virus and another person with the same vaccination status who basically carries on life as in the "before times" doesn't catch it.

 

[dockman]

2 hours ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

Awesome diagram...but you missed my very simple point...people are arguing that the spread can be stopped by wearing masks on the ships.  If that is true, then the person that tests positive with no symptoms should be able to travel the ship with a mask on.  Of course, the premise is false (that we some how wouldn't have the issue of spread with masks on) so the real answer is that we treat COVID just like the flu or Noro.  If you have symptoms, you quarantine.  If not, you don't even get tested.

i don't think any serious person is arguing that masks or vaccinations or hand sanitizing can STOP the spread....they are merely aides in mitigating the spread and severity....different people have different health issues so while covid may be no big deal to some it is still very much a problem to others...and just because you may not show symptoms does not mean you cannot spread the virus...i have little doubt that me and the many many other people who were recently infected on the emerald princess could well have been infected by other passengers who had or thought they had no symptoms so blissfully ignored all the recommended protocols and ruined my and others vacations...thanks a lot

[dreaminofcruisin]

Having had covid after a (Carnival) cruise in March, I am totally convinced that you cannot keep it off the ships and if it's there, I think it might be "chance" (or your immune system) if you catch it or not. 7 of us together on the cruise...2 being young kids, so we pretty much were all together everywhere. Only 3 of the 7 got covid. I actually think I got it from DH, since I was home for 8 days before testing positive. DH tested 3 times before testing poistive (5 days after disembarking). I tested 4 times before testing positive. We both had symptoms, but if we hadn't tested as often as we did (and we did not test daily), we might have not known we were positive. Others might have no symptoms, but are still spreading it.

Soooo...is cruising a risk? Yup.

Is it going to stop me from cruising? Not unless another more deadly variant shows up.

I have a Princess cruise (finally back to Princess! after over 2 years!) booked for August and another for October...one is international. My only concern is getting quarantined on the ship (which would stink...but I'll take my chances) or testing positive before flying back --- unless the U.S. finally drops that requirement.

 

I think you just need to be aware if you are cruising, that there is a good chance it will be on the ship and you may not be able to avoid it, no matter how diligent you are. The good news is that we aren't hearing of huge numbers of hospitalizations or deaths like in the beginning.  

 

Just an aside though....we actually think we might have caught it on a shuttle bus to the airport, or in the security lines at the airport, or on the plane....just because of the timing...but...who knows?

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

3 hours ago, Mary Ann 2 said:

I was on this cruise and would be interested in knowing how many tested themselves and were positive after being home a few days. I heard several conversations about people having "colds."  DH and I both have COVID-19, and we had both boosters, were pretty careful, wore masks, and never went to a show!  

My DW tested positive this morning, 2 days after we got home, with very mild symptoms, but I tested negative. We’re both in our late 60s. Funny thing, my DW wore her mask whenever we were in a public area, not just a congested one on the ship. I only wore it when we were in a congested area. 
 

The most likely place she caught it was on our Costa Rica Princess tour when we were in that crowded van with 11 people, with only 2 other people besides us wearing a mask. There is no Princess mandate for wearing a mask while on a tour bus. The lady who sat next to my DW used her handkerchief quite often with a slight cough every once in awhile. There was another lady behind my DW that coughed more often and even sneezed once. Neither one of these two were wearing a mask. 

[cruzin4us]

17 minutes ago, dockman said:

i don't think any serious person is arguing that masks or vaccinations or hand sanitizing can STOP the spread....they are merely aides in mitigating the spread and severity....different people have different health issues so while covid may be no big deal to some it is still very much a problem to others...and just because you may not show symptoms does not mean you cannot spread the virus...i have little doubt that me and the many many other people who were recently infected on the emerald princess could well have been infected by other passengers who had or thought they had no symptoms so blissfully ignored all the recommended protocols and ruined my and others vacations...thanks a lot

 

Or you could have caught it on the plane, or in the dining room, or in the bar, or from someone that had a mask on.   The fact of the matter is no one (or most people) don't know where/when they caught it.   If it was that simple, I'd have Fauci's job.

Again, if you are concerned you may catch covid, or have pre existing conditions, you shouldn't cruise, take an excursion, fly on a plane or eat/drink while on the ship.

[Bgwest]

4 hours ago, HappyInVan said:

I have absolutely no problem with only 24 hours of isolation if symptoms are severe enough to warrant testing.

Good to know!!

[dockman]

9 minutes ago, cruzin4us said:

 

Or you could have caught it on the plane, or in the dining room, or in the bar, or from someone that had a mask on.   The fact of the matter is no one (or most people) don't know where/when they caught it.   If it was that simple, I'd have Fauci's job.

Again, if you are concerned you may catch covid, or have pre existing conditions, you shouldn't cruise, take an excursion, fly on a plane or eat/drink while on the ship.

yes  i could have well caught from any of those places or people ..but....the fact is that IF all those places/people wore masks, practiced hygiene and distancing in responsible manner my odds along with others would have been reduced..not eliminated ...reduced

[San Pedro cruiser]

I am not aware of any new protocols but I would suggest wearing masks in crowded areas at least. Just got off Island Princess 14 day Panama Canal cruise last Wednesday 5/11/22.  35 people aboard had been in quarantine for Covid 19 per fellow passenger whose husband was one of those. Member of my traveling party tested positive on arrival home 5/11/22 with symptoms. Now 2 others in this party have tested positive with symptoms. Be safe and don't worry about what others might say! Sorry we weren't more cautious. 

[ebeluga]

1 hour ago, Ken the cruiser said:

My DW tested positive this morning, 2 days after we got home, with very mild symptoms, but I tested negative. We’re both in our late 60s. Funny thing, my DW wore her mask whenever we were in a public area, not just a congested one on the ship. I only wore it when we were in a congested area. 
 

The most likely place she caught it was on our Costa Rica Princess tour when we were in that crowded van with 11 people, with only 2 other people besides us wearing a mask. There is no Princess mandate for wearing a mask while on a tour bus. The lady who sat next to my DW used her handkerchief quite often with a slight cough every once in awhile. There was another lady behind my DW that coughed more often and even sneezed once. Neither one of these two were wearing a mask. 

Sorry to hear that.  What you described is a very likely scenario where she might have caught it as this variant is super transmissible.  Well they say that on every variant pretty much...Or you might just be the lucky one that the virus just is not able to latch onto you.  A friend of mine is like that no matter where he goes and what crowd he is with, he never got symptoms...or that he is unaware of whether he was (+) or not.

[ebeluga]

1 hour ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

I think you just need to be aware if you are cruising, that there is a good chance it will be on the ship and you may not be able to avoid it, no matter how diligent you are.

 

Totally agreed.  I was prepared that I would get COVID on the ship on each of my last 3 cruises even while I avoided elevators and crowded areas.  Did not join any group excursions.  I also knew that I would just drive home to isolate and had no chance to get stranded in a foreign port.  Fortunately, I did not catch it.

If one cannot afford to get sick by COVID because of medical conditions, it is best to stay off the ships.  The risk is very different from a land based vacation.

[Cessna140]

For those who say they were wearing masks and still got covid……. What type of mask were you wearing? N 95, KN 95, or just a regular blue mask ? 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

55 minutes ago, Cessna140 said:

For those who say they were wearing masks and still got covid……. What type of mask were you wearing? N 95, KN 95, or just a regular blue mask ? 

Good question.  And there are several posting here that they ALWAYS wear a mask on the ship.  Really not possible if you eat or drink.  And I have seen a few posters that make this claim wearing a mask on their chin or around their neck: but it was ALWAYS there!

[Mary Ann 2]

5 hours ago, Cessna140 said:

For those who say they were wearing masks and still got covid……. What type of mask were you wearing? N 95, KN 95, or just a regular blue mask ? 

We wore a KN95 mask.

Edited May 17, 2022 by Mary Ann 2

[Ombud]

11 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

guest who is fully vaccinated and boosted and follows all Covid protocols can catch the virus and another person with the same vaccination status who basically carries on life as in the "before times" doesn't catch it.

Exactly!! Son, grandson, granddaughter all got it right after I got home from my last cruise. I was the shopper / caretaker / didn't stay away from any of them or mask. I never got it (multiple negative antigen tests)

 

9 hours ago, ebeluga said:

 I was prepared that I would get COVID on the ship on each of my last 3 cruises

I wonder how many of us pack an antigen test kit on a cruise (I'll notify ship only if positive). 

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Exactly!! Son, grandson, granddaughter all got it right after I got home from my last cruise. I was the shopper / caretaker / didn't stay away from any of them or mask. I never got it (multiple negative antigen tests)

 

I wonder how many of us pack an antigen test kit on a cruise (I'll notify ship only if positive). 

 

I took tests with me on my 25 day cruise.  Tested 2 (CVS) days prior.  Tested before seeing my daughter/family in HNL (on my own).  Tested b2b (Princess) turn around day.  Tested night before disembarkation to reassure driver friend that I was "safe".  

 

Then I test after I got off before visiting with family.  And tested days after visiting with family.  

 

I wore a mask as often as I could.  Even in the van in Puerto Vallarta where only 4 out of the 11 were the only ones masked.  Had a couple of coughers and sneezers on the van.  I was shocked that I survived these two voyages.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

On 5/16/2022 at 2:01 PM, Cessna140 said:

For those who say they were wearing masks and still got covid……. What type of mask were you wearing? N 95, KN 95, or just a regular blue mask ? 

I wore a cloth mask with a blue surgical mask.  I removed my mask when I was eating or drinking and when outside. I spent a lot of time in the very crowded casino.  We were in the crowded Theater several times.  Our cruise ended 4/10/22 and I tested positive on 4/11/22.  My friend that was with me did not get sick.