By Alfred Acenas
EBC Hawaii Bureau

HONOLULU, HAWAII (Eagle News) – Hawaii’s Department of Transportation and Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday, April 8, that six crewmembers on board the Pride of America cruise ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus COVID19.

Two crewmembers have since been taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment and the remaining cases have been isolated on the ship.

There are approximately 500 crewmembers on board. Precautionary measures have been taken to include separating crewmembers to follow social distancing guidelines.

The Pride of America is currently docked at Honolulu Harbor and has not had passengers on board since temporarily suspending operations on March 14.

The State’s DOH is coordinating with the vessel’s leadership and following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance when allowing healthy crewmembers to leave the ship for immediate departure to their home states. Those who are leaving the state are required to wear masks while traveling. DOH also is working with the CDC to notify the respective states regarding these individuals who will be required to remain in home quarantine for 14 days upon arrival at their final destination.

Managed by Norwegian Cruise Lines, the Pride of America is the only cruise ship that has a home port in Honolulu. During normal operations, it visits the islands of Kauai, Maui, and Big Island; and it does not leave the state. However, it is scheduled to depart Hawaii later this month to enter dry dock.

Crewmembers will remain with the ship when it departs.

(Eagle News Service)