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Cruise ship kept from docking in South Florida as employees tested for coronavirus

2 unidentified employees will reportedly be tested for the virus before any decision is made.
Posted at 12:47 PM, Mar 08, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-08 18:35:23-04

Passengers aboard a cruise ship scheduled to dock Sunday morning in South Florida are playing the waiting game after one person on board said that two crew members may have been exposed to the coronavirus.

According to Broward County officials, Regal Princess, scheduled to arrive at Port Everglades Sunday morning and depart in the evening, is being held offshore at the direction of the US Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until the CDC completes a review of crew history and testing of crew members who recently served aboard the Grand Princess, the ship currently being held off of San Francisco.

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The cruise line has advised that they have canceled Sunday’s sailing of this ship.

Port Everglades is fully operational for all other cruise and cargo activities.

Cruise passengers have been asked to contact Princess Cruises for further information.

The passenger, Robert Buccheree, said in a video that the Coast Guard was bringing testing kits to the ship. The two employees, who were not identified, will reportedly be tested for the virus before any decision is made on when the boat can dock.

No word has been released on what expenses may be reimbursed for passengers at this time.

Another cruise ship carrying 3,500 people from 54 countries is expected to dock in Oakland, California on Monday. Passengers on that ship suffering from coronavirus will either be hospitalized or go to a federally operated isolation facility within California for testing and isolation.

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This story is courtesy of our news partners at NBCMiami.com.