Argentina: liner refused in port, passengers isolated after Covid case

A liner with nearly 300 passengers was denied access to the port of Puerto Madryn, in southern Argentina and its passengers ordered to isolation Tuesday, November 30, after the detection of a case of Covid on board , against a background of fear linked to the new Omicron variant.

Argentina's health ministry said in a statement that it had "

," after the announcement on Tuesday of a positive case.

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The liner, under the flag of the Bahamas, is currently in the open sea off Samborombon Bay, about 280 km southeast of Buenos Aires, after making a stopover in the Argentine capital on Friday.

After an on-board alert on a possible positive case, PCR tests were carried out in 24 hours on the 170 passengers and 156 crew members, "

" who nevertheless remained in isolation. on the ship, according to Minister Carla Vizzoti.

A "precautionary measure" against the Omicron variant

But a crew member, medical staff, who tested negative on Saturday, tested positive for antigen on Monday.

The person is "

", according to the captain of the ship quoted in the ministerial statement.

An epidemiological investigation was launched on board, "

", underlines the ministry.

In Buenos Aires, 37 passengers had disembarked once the negative tests were known, and 152 had boarded.

The ship was heading for the south coast of Argentina, but the Port of Puerto Madryn, 1,300 km from Buenos Aires announced Tuesday denying it access.

His next scheduled stop is Ushuaia, 3000 km away.

Referring to the fear aroused by the Omicron variant, while Argentina has not yet identified a case, the ministry recalls that Cape Verde, where the ship had called, “

”.

“

” he adds.