Following a lengthy delay awaiting test results, a Carnival Cruise ship cleared all on board to disembark in Long Beach Harbor Saturday night, representatives from the cruise company said.
The cruise ship, Carnival Panorama, docked at the Long Beach Harbor at 6:30 a.m., Long Beach Fire Department said. The ship stopped letting passengers off the ship after reports of an ill passenger.
LBFD confirmed a passenger was experiencing some kind of illness but said as of 12:45 p.m. it did not look the symptoms of coronavirus. However, officials tested the passenger and stalled debarkation until the test results were returned.
"There is a medical matter with a Carnival Panorama guest that caused authorities to suspend debarkation. The guest in question does not meet CDC criteria for coronavirus risk, but officials still have questions. Our shoreside medical team is in direct contact with authorities and we hope to debark shortly," Carnival Cruise Media Relations said in a statement.
At 10 p.m., the results came back negative and guests were cleared to disembark in Long Beach, the cruise company said in a statement:
"The precautionary COVID-19 test on a Carnival Panorama guest has come back negative and guests have been cleared to disembark in Long Beach. The guests were notified by Carnival Panorama Captain Carlo Queirolo at 9:45 pm PT. The next Carnival Panorama cruise to the Mexican Riviera will now operate as a six-day cruise, departing on Sunday and those guests have also been notified.
"Because of the late hour in receiving the results, the current guests will stay on board overnight and debark on Sunday morning.
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"Carnival Panorama arrived in Long Beach Saturday morning from a seven-day Mexican Riviera cruise. A guest on Carnival Panorama was taken to a hospital in Long Beach, Calif. for evaluation and a COVID-19 test ordered by public health authorities out of an abundance of caution. Public health officials required that all guests stay on the ship until the test results were back.
"We thank our guests for their tremendous patience, cooperation and understanding and the support of local officials."
