CDC reevaluating the need for testing

[UKstages]

my goodness!

 

there is a surprising amount of misinformation in this thread, along with opinion and speculation being presented as fact. two and a half years in!

 

wow.

 

just... wow.

Edited June 21, 2022 by UKstages

[coffeebean]

10 hours ago, CrazyTrain2 said:

............As Covid progresses and evolves, expect even more virulent mutations to emerge making testing even less useful and less accurate.  

The usual course of viruses such as Covid is it mutates to be less virulent and more transmissible. That is exactly how Covid has evolved.

Edited June 21, 2022 by coffeebean

[BklynBorn47]

Might as well add my 2 cents:
Yes, we are vaxed and boosted and don’t mind wearing a mask.
Yes, we have been on 4 cruises since the restart and quarantined once.
(8 more booked in the next 8 months in 2 mega-trips)

Yes, I agree they should drop not only the testing to board requirement but also ANY testing during the cruise.

Why?  So many people obviously sick with “something” making no effort to shield others from their germs.  “Take Tylenol to beat the temp check and don’t report symptoms.”  Just cough, sneeze, blow nose and tell people its “allergies.”  (Yes, I know those with no symptoms can also spread germs)

Can I do anything about that? NO, I can’t.  What good is a test anymore? 
My KN95 mask protects me somewhat, but mostly it protects others from ME. 

Yes, I understand the “sick with something” predates Covid.  Our worst experience was on a river cruise when each day the numbers obviously sick increased to the point that someone suggested separating the dining room into “sick and not sick.”  We succumbed the day after we disembarked to travel Europe on our own.  (A doctor came to our hotel in Slovakia with meds – 30 Euros for the 2 of us)

So, unless some new deadly variant arises, might as well stop testing altogether. 
If a repeat of March 2020 occurs, when we were on one of the last ships to dock before the shutdown, it’s likely the end for the cruising industry and our opinions are irrelevant.

Today is my 75^th Birthday.  Feeling introspective and fatalistic I suppose.
We will spend 3 hours kayaking this morning - our “on the water” alternative. 

[Markanddonna]

1 hour ago, BklynBorn47 said:

Might as well add my 2 cents:
Yes, we are vaxed and boosted and don’t mind wearing a mask.
Yes, we have been on 4 cruises since the restart and quarantined once.
(8 more booked in the next 8 months in 2 mega-trips)

Yes, I agree they should drop not only the testing to board requirement but also ANY testing during the cruise.

Why?  So many people obviously sick with “something” making no effort to shield others from their germs.  “Take Tylenol to beat the temp check and don’t report symptoms.”  Just cough, sneeze, blow nose and tell people its “allergies.”  (Yes, I know those with no symptoms can also spread germs)

Can I do anything about that? NO, I can’t.  What good is a test anymore? 
My KN95 mask protects me somewhat, but mostly it protects others from ME. 

Yes, I understand the “sick with something” predates Covid.  Our worst experience was on a river cruise when each day the numbers obviously sick increased to the point that someone suggested separating the dining room into “sick and not sick.”  We succumbed the day after we disembarked to travel Europe on our own.  (A doctor came to our hotel in Slovakia with meds – 30 Euros for the 2 of us)

So, unless some new deadly variant arises, might as well stop testing altogether. 
If a repeat of March 2020 occurs, when we were on one of the last ships to dock before the shutdown, it’s likely the end for the cruising industry and our opinions are irrelevant.

Today is my 75^th Birthday.  Feeling introspective and fatalistic I suppose.
We will spend 3 hours kayaking this morning - our “on the water” alternative. 

That is exactly what our experience was on a 12 day TA to Europe. We started out with a "healthy" population and by day six, Covid reared its ugly head with coughing, nose blowing, etc. all around the ship. These positive Covid cases got past the testing as our first five days were all at sea. We stayed in our travel bubble and didn't socialize with strangers or share tables in the MDR, which we normally enjoy.

 

I just read that the very newest strain is undetectable with the current testing. Stop the madness.

[Karaboudjan]

49 minutes ago, Markanddonna said:

 

I just read that the very newest strain is undetectable with the current testing. Stop the madness.

 

If it is undetectable how do we know that it even exists?  🤔

 

Can you post a link to the source for that?

[CrazyTrain2]

12 minutes ago, Karaboudjan said:

 

If it is undetectable how do we know that it even exists?  🤔

 

Can you post a link to the source for that?

Genetic sequencing the virus from people that are infected.  NYC does a great job of sequencing many cases and that's why I use their data to see what's "Going around" - even though I live 1500 miles away from NYC.

 

Just about every week/geography the virus mutates in some way.  If the mutation becomes "sticky" meaning the mutation seems to persist for a few generations - it starts getting tracked.  If the new virus seems to be taking hold in a geography and grows/spreads - It becomes a variant of concern.

 

With these latest variants, a variant of concern in South Africa is within weeks detected and growing in NYC.  Hence political borders are no longer (and seldom were) a barrier for the spread of a covid variant.

 

This article speaks to differences in rapid tests (less accurate) for different variants.  It mentions Delta but the science is the same for all the variants - A test is designed for a specific genetic marker.  Even though the common cold and covid are both corona viruses, you would not want your covid test triggering on the common cold.  As long as the virus's marker is in tact, as the virus mutates the test remains viable.  But as the virus evolves the marker may be less prevalent or not exist at all in the new variant.

 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/coronavirus-rapid-tests-may-be-less-effective-for-new-variants/

[Markanddonna]

12 minutes ago, CrazyTrain2 said:

Genetic sequencing the virus from people that are infected.  NYC does a great job of sequencing many cases and that's why I use their data to see what's "Going around" - even though I live 1500 miles away from NYC.

 

Just about every week/geography the virus mutates in some way.  If the mutation becomes "sticky" meaning the mutation seems to persist for a few generations - it starts getting tracked.  If the new virus seems to be taking hold in a geography and grows/spreads - It becomes a variant of concern.

 

With these latest variants, a variant of concern in South Africa is within weeks detected and growing in NYC.  Hence political borders are no longer (and seldom were) a barrier for the spread of a covid variant.

 

This article speaks to differences in rapid tests (less accurate) for different variants.  It mentions Delta but the science is the same for all the variants - A test is designed for a specific genetic marker.  Even though the common cold and covid are both corona viruses, you would not want your covid test triggering on the common cold.  As long as the virus's marker is in tact, as the virus mutates the test remains viable.  But as the virus evolves the marker may be less prevalent or not exist at all in the new variant.

 

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/coronavirus-rapid-tests-may-be-less-effective-for-new-variants/

That was the same info I was reading. 

[cabincop]

On 6/21/2022 at 9:59 AM, BermudaBound2014 said:

 

 

This is not the overwhelming sentiment on crew social. I have not read one positive thing about wearing masks from the crew. Virtually all crew want the masking (and weekly testing) long gone. If crew social is to be believed, there are quite a few crew members willing to resign contracts once mandatory masks are eliminated.

 

Personally, I highly doubt 'most' crew will continue mask wearing when it isn't mandated.  Once the mandatory masks are eliminated for crew, we will have the answer. 

I agree. I was on Getaway in April for TA & most crew members hated the masks. I miss seeing their smiles. The casino was only place crew didn’t mind, because of cigarette smoke. I’ll be on cruise in October hoping testing & masks for all are voluntary 

[Jac199]

5 hours ago, BklynBorn47 said:

 

Today is my 75^th Birthday.  Feeling introspective and fatalistic I suppose.
We will spend 3 hours kayaking this morning - our “on the water” alternative. 

Wishing you a very happy birthday!

[Ken the cruiser]

FWIW CDC just added an alternative today, June 22, to quarantining an up-to-date vaccinated passenger, most likely for those that were traced, but tested negative. Notice the difference between those that have been "fully vaccinated" versus those that are "up-to-date" on their vaccines.

 

Note: I know it's not what some folks are looking for with regards to potential pre-cruising testing requirement changes. But it definitely helps if you were "traced" while on a cruise to someone that did test positive. Hopefully, those potential CDC pre-cruise testing modifications are just around the corner. One can hope anyway. 🤞🤞

 

Onboard COVID-19 Testing for Symptomatic Travelers (Crew and Passengers) and Testing and Quarantine of Close Contacts

 

	Travelers Who Are Not Up to Date on their COVID-19 Vaccinations	Travelers Who Are Up to Date on their COVID-19 Vaccinations
Testing of Travelers with Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19	NAAT	Viral (NAAT or antigen) Negative antigen test must be confirmed with NAAT
Testing and Quarantine of Asymptomatic Close Contacts without Documentation of Recovery in Past 90 Days	Testing: Viral (NAAT or antigen, NAAT preferred) immediately and on day 10 before ending quarantine   Quarantine: until at least 10 days after their last exposure (the day of last close contact is counted as day 0). *Alternatively, cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may opt to quarantine these travelers until 5 days after their last exposure followed by 5 days of daily viral testing. **See guidance above for masking and dining requirements	Testing: Viral (NAAT or antigen, NAAT preferred) immediately and on day 5 before ending quarantine   Quarantine: until at least 5 days after their last exposure (the day of last close contact is counted as day 0) *Alternatively, cruise ship operators, at their discretion, may opt to test these travelers with a viral test daily until 5 days after their last exposure in lieu of a 5-day quarantine. **See guidance above for masking and dining requirements
Testing and Quarantine of Asymptomatic Close Contacts with Documentation of Recovery in Past 90 Days	Testing: Not Applicable Quarantine: Not Applicable

Technical Instructions for Mitigation of COVID-19 Among Cruise Ship Crew | Quarantine | CDC