Crew members aboard Queen Elizabeth test positive for COVID-19

Multiple crew members on the cruise ship the Queen Elizabeth, which expected to sail with passengers on July 19, have tested positive for COVID-19, the BBC and USA Today reported on Wednesday.

“We have detected a small number of Covid-19 cases amongst crew members joining Queen Elizabeth,” Cunard Line President Simon Palethorpe told USA Today in a statement.

“We have comprehensive health and wellbeing procedures in place to protect all on board, which have been developed with guidance from our global medical, public health and industry experts and in close coordination with Government departments,” Palethorpe added.

It’s unclear how many crew members have tested positive or when. USA Today reported that Cunard did not give any details regarding the vaccination status of the crew members who tested positive.

According to the BBC, the cruise ship has 800 crew members on board currently.

Current United Kingdom guidance allows domestic cruises to resume, though they must travel between U.K. ports. Additionally, the passenger limits for domestic cruises are at 50 percent capacity or up to 1,000 people, “whichever is lower.”

The U.K. is expected to enter stage four of its reopening on July 19, where the government would lift mandates on social distancing and capacity limits.

The Hill has reached out to Cunard for comment.