Virus outbreak hits Norway cruise ship, could spread along coast

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A Norwegian cruise ship line halted all trips and apologised Monday for procedural errors after an outbreak of coronavirus on one ship infected at least 5 passengers and 36 crew.

Health authorities fear the ship could have infected dozens of towns and villages along Norway’s western coast.

The 41 people on the MS Roald Amundsen who tested positive have been admitted to the University Hospital of North Norway in Tromsoe, north of the Arctic Circle, where the ship currently is docked.

“A preliminary evaluation shows that there has been a failure in several of our internal procedures,” Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam said in a statement.

He added the company that sails along Norway’s picturesque coast between Bergen in the south and Kirkenes in the north is “now in the process of a full review of all procedures, and all aspects of our own handling.”

The cruise line has contacted passengers who had been on the MS Roald Amundsen for its July 17-24 and July 25-31 trips from Bergen to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, which is known for its polar bears.

There were 209 guests on the first voyage and 178 guests on the second voyage.

All 158 crew members on MS Roald Amundsen have been tested and 122 were negative.

But since the cruise ship line often acts like a local ferry, travelling from port to port along Norway’s western coast, the virus may not have been contained onboard.

Some passengers disembarked along the route and may have spread the virus to their local communities.

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