N.B. COVID-19 roundup: Cruise ship passengers, crew must be fully vaccinated, Ottawa announces
CBC
All cruise ship passengers and crew will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when ships begin docking at Port Saint John this spring.
It's part of new COVID-19 measures announced by the federal government Monday for the return of cruise ships to Canadian waters next month for the 2022 season.
Passengers will need to take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours before they board or take an antigen test within one day of boarding, said federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra.
The same rule applies to passengers disembarking from a cruise ship in Canada, he said.
Cruise ship operators will be required to inspect proof of vaccination and pre-boarding test results, test suspected cases, isolate positive cases, test close contacts of positive cases.
They will also be required to report symptomatic or positive passengers or crew to Transport Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the port, and the local public health unit.
Symptomatic or positive passengers can expect to be isolated on board the ship and won't be able to take part in communal activities.
At the end of their cruise, it will be the cruise line's responsibility to arrange for COVID-19-safe isolation accommodations.
No cruise ships have stopped in Saint John since 2020, when the pandemic restricted travel.
The first ship of the season is scheduled for May 4, when the Pearl Mist will sail into the harbour.
A total of 69 cruise ships are expected.
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