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Hurtigruten's return hit by fresh coronavirus outbreak
Hurtigruten is working with health authorities in Norway to contain a coronavirus outbreak onboard its MS Roald Amundsen expedition ship, the first since the line resumed operations in mid-June.
On Friday (31 July), four members of crew tested positive for Covid-19, which resulted in the other 154 being tested; a further 32 were confirmed on Saturday (1 August) to have the infection.
None of the 36 who tested positive "have shown any signs of disease or symptoms of Covid-19" Hurtigruten said in a statement issued on Sunday afternoon (2 August).
Four guests have also since tested positive, the line confirmed. The ship is currently docked in Tromso with no guests onboard.
"We are now focusing all available efforts in taking care of our guests and colleagues," said Hurtigruten vice-president global communications Rune Thomas Ege.
"We work closely with the Norwegian national and local health authorities for follow-up, information, further testing, and infection tracking.
"The initial four crew members that were infected were isolated several days ago because of other disease symptoms, showing no symptoms of Covid-19. They were routinely tested before being admitted to hospital in Tromso [on] Friday morning."
All guests onboard MS Roald Amundsen’s 17 July and 24 July departures have been contacted.
As a result, 209 guests from the 17 July voyage and 178 from the 24 July voyage will self-quarantine in line with Norwegian health authority regulations.
Hurtigruten said it had assisted affected guests with transport, accommodation, food and other needs.
Ege added: "The safety and wellbeing of our guests and crew is Hurtigruten’s number one priority. All crew members are closely monitored and screened daily.
"Non-Norwegian crew members are quarantined before boarding the ship, and non-European crew need to undergo two negative Covid-19 tests before even leaving their home country."
MS Roald Amundsen’s upcoming Svalbard sailing has been cancelled, with the ship now not scheduled to sail until September.
Hurtigruten resumed operations in mid-June, with MS Roald Amundsen re-entering service in early July.
The line has previously said it could sail ex-UK later this year if rates of coronavirus infection in the UK fall to manageable levels.
