foxnews--2020-03-13--Dem Rep. Katie Porter, in tense hearing, gets CDC chief to commit to free coronavirus testing

A Democratic congresswoman secured a commitment for free coronavirus testing from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) on Thursday after she peppered him with questions about the importance of testing and the cost of treatment .
‘ `` Dr. Kadlec , for someone without insurance , do you know the out-of-pocket cost of a complete blood count test ? ''
Rep. Katie Porter , D-Calif. , first asked Robert Kadlec , assistant secretary of Health and Human Services , at the House Oversight Committee hearing on coronavirus preparedness .
Kadlec said he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through , step-by-step , how much she estimated various tests and an emergency room visit would cost for an uninsured American -- pulling out a whiteboard as she did her math .
“ This is like ‘ The Price is Right , ’ ” she commented as she went through the costs .
She eventually came to the figure of $ 1,331 and said it could be another $ 4,000 if that included a period of isolation in a hospital .
`` Fear of these costs are going to keep people from being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need and from keeping their communities safe , '' Porter said .
`` We live in a world where 40 percent of Americans ca n't even afford a $ 400 unexpected expense . ''
She then turned to Dr. Robert Redfield , the director of the CDC , and asked if he wants to know who has the coronavirus : `` Not just rich people , but everybody who might have the virus ? ''
When Redfield said he did , she cited a statute she said allows the CDC director to authorize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quarantine and isolation and asked if he would commit to use that authority to pay for testing for every American , regardless of insurance .
`` Well , I can say that we 're going to do everything to make sure everybody can get the care they need , ” Redfield started , before being cut off by Porter , who said his answer was “ not good enough.
” She continued to grill Redfield as he said CDC was working with HHS to “ see how we operationalize ” getting testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commit to free testing .
HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS SICK LEAVE , FREE TESTS IN FLUX “ Doctor Redfield you don ’ t need to do any work to operationalize , you need to make a commitment to the American people so they come in to get tested , ” Porter shot back .
`` You can operationalize the payment structure tomorrow . ''
`` I think you 're an excellent questioner , so my answer is yes , '' Redfield said eventually .
`` Excellent .
Everybody in America hear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get tested for coronavirus and have that covered , regardless of insurance , '' Porter said .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The coronavirus pandemic has rocked global markets and forced the shutdown of schools , sporting events and other public gatherings across the country and the world .
At least 1,600 Americans have tested positive for the virus , and experts expect that number to rise significantly .
So far 41 people have died in the U.S. , and 4,947 have died worldwide from the virus .

A Democratic congresswoman secured a commitment for free coronavirus testing from the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday after she peppered him with questions about the importance of testing and the cost of treatment.
‘"Dr. Kadlec, for someone without insurance, do you know the out-of-pocket cost of a complete blood count test?" Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., first asked Robert Kadlec, assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, at the House Oversight Committee hearing on coronavirus preparedness.
PELOSI TELEGRAPHS THIRD CORONAVIRUS FUNDING BILL AMID SCRAMBLE TO CALM MARKETS
Kadlec said he did not immediately know. Porter then went through, step-by-step, how much she estimated various tests and an emergency room visit would cost for an uninsured American -- pulling out a whiteboard as she did her math.
“This is like ‘The Price is Right,’” she commented as she went through the costs.
She eventually came to the figure of $1,331 and said it could be another $4,000 if that included a period of isolation in a hospital.
"Fear of these costs are going to keep people from being tested, from getting the care they need and from keeping their communities safe," Porter said. "We live in a world where 40 percent of Americans can't even afford a $400 unexpected expense."
She then turned to Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the CDC, and asked if he wants to know who has the coronavirus: "Not just rich people, but everybody who might have the virus?"
When Redfield said he did, she cited a statute she said allows the CDC director to authorize payment for treatment for certain people subject to quarantine and isolation and asked if he would commit to use that authority to pay for testing for every American, regardless of insurance.
"Well, I can say that we're going to do everything to make sure everybody can get the care they need,” Redfield started, before being cut off by Porter, who said his answer was “not good enough.”
She continued to grill Redfield as he said CDC was working with HHS to “see how we operationalize” getting testing for all Americans and asked him to commit to free testing.
HOUSE BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE CORONAVIRUS SICK LEAVE, FREE TESTS IN FLUX
“Doctor Redfield you don’t need to do any work to operationalize, you need to make a commitment to the American people so they come in to get tested,” Porter shot back. "You can operationalize the payment structure tomorrow."
"I think you're an excellent questioner, so my answer is yes," Redfield said eventually.
"Excellent. Everybody in America hear that, you are eligible to go get tested for coronavirus and have that covered, regardless of insurance," Porter said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The coronavirus pandemic has rocked global markets and forced the shutdown of schools, sporting events and other public gatherings across the country and the world.
At least 1,600 Americans have tested positive for the virus, and experts expect that number to rise significantly. So far 41 people have died in the U.S., and 4,947 have died worldwide from the virus.


foxnews--2020-03-13--UK PM Boris Johnson rules out Brexit delay amid coronavirus pandemic

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday ruled out delaying Brexit because of the coronavirus pandemic , reiterating that the U.K. would finalize its departure from the European Union with or without a formal trade agreement by the end of the year .
“ In U.K. law , a request for an extension is not possible , ” a spokesman for Johnson told The Guardian .
BORIS JOHNSON DECLARES CORONAVIRUS 'THE WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS FOR A GENERATION , ' WARNS OF MORE FATALITIES Britain formally left the European Union at the end of January , more than three years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
But with that formal departure , the U.K. entered a transition period until the end of the year during which it tries to thrash out a free trade agreement with the E.U .
Johnson ’ s government has written into law that that deal needs to be secured by the end of the year -- in part to assure Brexiteers who were upset by regular delays under his predecessor Theresa May .
But with the new pandemic , of which the consequences and reach are still not yet known , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the talks difficult .
Earlier Friday the government announced that local elections scheduled for May will be delayed until 2021 .
The growing uncertainty and disruption has increased calls for the talks to be similarly delayed .
“ If the virus starts to disrupt everyday life ... and many other processes have slowed down as a consequence , there is no reason to think that Brexit trade talks will be immune , then the parties will have to work together in good faith to decide how to manage that , ” former Chancellor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week .
Labour MP Lisa Nancy also called on the government to delay the talks , saying that uncertainty must be minimized .
“ The government must take a long-term approach to this crisis and run the country like the future matters , ” she wrote in an op-ed for The Guardian .
“ In a crisis , uncertainty must be minimised .
That is the lesson from the financial crisis in 2008 and every global crisis before it.
” BRITAIN SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM POST-BREXIT EU TALKS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SOVEREIGNTY Adding to putting the talks at risk is both the pandemic itself , which is taking leaders ’ attentions away from other matters , but also that face-to-face meetings are being discouraged due to the risk of infection .
The spokesman said that video conferencing was one way the talks could continue .
“ The discussions can take place using an alternative forum , such as video-conferencing , ” he said .
“ Video-conferencing is something which is used throughout the world , and business.
” Talks are likely to include conversations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Irish border and the continued rights of E.U .
citizens in the U.K. , and U.K. citizens abroad .
Britain ’ s hope is to secure a deal that looks similar to that between the E.U .
and Canada and other countries .
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Britain has continually ruled out a delay , saying that even if talks aren ’ t successful , then it will go ahead with finalizing its departure at the end of the year .
“ At the end of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United Kingdom will fully recover its economic and political independence , ” Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told lawmakers last month .
“ We want the best possible trading relationship with the E.U .
— but in pursuit of a deal we will not trade away our sovereignty .
”

U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Friday ruled out delaying Brexit because of the coronavirus pandemic, reiterating that the U.K. would finalize its departure from the European Union with or without a formal trade agreement by the end of the year.
“In U.K. law, a request for an extension is not possible,” a spokesman for Johnson told The Guardian.
BORIS JOHNSON DECLARES CORONAVIRUS 'THE WORST PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS FOR A GENERATION,' WARNS OF MORE FATALITIES
Britain formally left the European Union at the end of January, more than three years after Brits voted to leave the bloc in 2016. But with that formal departure, the U.K. entered a transition period until the end of the year during which it tries to thrash out a free trade agreement with the E.U.
Johnson’s government has written into law that that deal needs to be secured by the end of the year -- in part to assure Brexiteers who were upset by regular delays under his predecessor Theresa May.
But with the new pandemic, of which the consequences and reach are still not yet known, the disruption to daily life risks making the talks difficult. Earlier Friday the government announced that local elections scheduled for May will be delayed until 2021.
The growing uncertainty and disruption has increased calls for the talks to be similarly delayed.
“If the virus starts to disrupt everyday life...and many other processes have slowed down as a consequence, there is no reason to think that Brexit trade talks will be immune, then the parties will have to work together in good faith to decide how to manage that,” former Chancellor Philip Hammond told The Times of London this week.
Labour MP Lisa Nancy also called on the government to delay the talks, saying that uncertainty must be minimized.
“The government must take a long-term approach to this crisis and run the country like the future matters,” she wrote in an op-ed for The Guardian. “In a crisis, uncertainty must be minimised. That is the lesson from the financial crisis in 2008 and every global crisis before it.”
BRITAIN SAYS IT IS PREPARED TO WALK AWAY FROM POST-BREXIT EU TALKS: 'WE WILL NOT TRADE AWAY OUR SOVEREIGNTY
Adding to putting the talks at risk is both the pandemic itself, which is taking leaders’ attentions away from other matters, but also that face-to-face meetings are being discouraged due to the risk of infection.
The spokesman said that video conferencing was one way the talks could continue.
“The discussions can take place using an alternative forum, such as video-conferencing,” he said. “Video-conferencing is something which is used throughout the world, and business.”
Talks are likely to include conversations on prickly issues from fishing to immigration, the Irish border and the continued rights of E.U. citizens in the U.K., and U.K. citizens abroad. Britain’s hope is to secure a deal that looks similar to that between the E.U. and Canada and other countries.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Britain has continually ruled out a delay, saying that even if talks aren’t successful, then it will go ahead with finalizing its departure at the end of the year.
“At the end of the transition period on the 31st of December, the United Kingdom will fully recover its economic and political independence,” Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told lawmakers last month. “We want the best possible trading relationship with the E.U. — but in pursuit of a deal we will not trade away our sovereignty.”


foxnews--2020-03-13--Coronavirus impact: NASA not pushing back next Mars rover just yet

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic , NASA said it currently has no plans to push back the launch of its Perseverance rover to Mars , Fox News has learned .
`` We are proactively monitoring the coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) situation , and have plans in place to address issues as they arise , '' NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said in an email to Fox News .
`` Currently , the coronavirus has not impacted the Mars Perseverance rover launch preps , and work is continuing on schedule . ''
NASA , which recently renamed the rover to Perseverance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 .
This rover will attempt to detect if there is any fossilized evidence of extraterrestrial beings , in addition to other tasks .
The U.S. space agency 's announcement comes after the European Space Agency and Russian space agency Roscosmos said they would back its upcoming ExoMars mission , which had also been scheduled for July 2020 .
The agencies said the decision to postpone the launch of the Rosalind Franklin rover was made due in part to additional testing and concerns that the novel coronavirus could affect the availability of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rover .
`` We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022 , '' said Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin in a statement .
`` It is driven primarily by the need to maximise the robustness of all ExoMars systems as well as force majeure circumstances related to exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in Europe which left our experts practically no possibility to proceed with travels to partner industries . ''
Although there are no `` current '' plans to push back the Perseverance rover 's mission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martian surface on Feb. 18 , 2021 , NASA is also dealing with altered plans because of COVID-19 .
Earlier this week , NASA updated its work-from-home plans after an employee at NASA 's Ames Research Center tested positive for the virus .
Ames Research Center remains on mandatory telework and restricted access through at least March 13 .
The government agency added that `` all work-related travel is canceled for the week of March 9 , and future travel will be reviewed on an individual basis . ''
`` NASA is coordinating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other federal agencies and officials , and has formed an internal , multi-office working group that will address issues as they arise , '' Beutel added in the email , stating the space agency will `` follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency ’ s Chief Health and Medical Officer , and communicate that guidance to its workforce as it becomes available . ''
Once Perseverance lands on Mars , it will join the still functioning Curiosity rover and the now-deceased Opportunity rover on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this rover will carry the `` first helicopter that will fly on another planet , '' NASA added .
NASA ’ s long-term goal is to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s .
COVID-19 has infected 132,567 people around the world , up 5.6 percent from Thursday .
Four-thousand nine hundred forty-seven people have died from the virus .

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, NASA said it currently has no plans to push back the launch of its Perseverance rover to Mars, Fox News has learned.
"We are proactively monitoring the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, and have plans in place to address issues as they arise," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said in an email to Fox News. "Currently, the coronavirus has not impacted the Mars Perseverance rover launch preps, and work is continuing on schedule."
NASA, which recently renamed the rover to Perseverance, will launch the rover on July 17, 2020. This rover will attempt to detect if there is any fossilized evidence of extraterrestrial beings, in addition to other tasks.
CORONAVIRUS DELAYS NEXT MISSION UNTIL 2022
The U.S. space agency's announcement comes after the European Space Agency and Russian space agency Roscosmos said they would back its upcoming ExoMars mission, which had also been scheduled for July 2020.
The agencies said the decision to postpone the launch of the Rosalind Franklin rover was made due in part to additional testing and concerns that the novel coronavirus could affect the availability of personnel needed to operate and maintain the rover.
"We have made a difficult but well-weighed decision to postpone the launch to 2022," said Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin in a statement. "It is driven primarily by the need to maximise the robustness of all ExoMars systems as well as force majeure circumstances related to exacerbation of the epidemiological situation in Europe which left our experts practically no possibility to proceed with travels to partner industries."
NASA UPDATES CORONAVIRUS PLANS AFTER EMPLOYEE TESTED POSITIVE
Although there are no "current" plans to push back the Perseverance rover's mission, which is expected to land on the Martian surface on Feb. 18, 2021, NASA is also dealing with altered plans because of COVID-19.
Earlier this week, NASA updated its work-from-home plans after an employee at NASA's Ames Research Center tested positive for the virus.
Ames Research Center remains on mandatory telework and restricted access through at least March 13.
The government agency added that "all work-related travel is canceled for the week of March 9, and future travel will be reviewed on an individual basis."
"NASA is coordinating with the White House, State Department, and other federal agencies and officials, and has formed an internal, multi-office working group that will address issues as they arise," Beutel added in the email, stating the space agency will "follow guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the agency’s Chief Health and Medical Officer, and communicate that guidance to its workforce as it becomes available."
Once Perseverance lands on Mars, it will join the still functioning Curiosity rover and the now-deceased Opportunity rover on the Red Planet. Unlike Curiosity or Opportunity, this rover will carry the "first helicopter that will fly on another planet," NASA added.
NASA’s long-term goal is to send a manned mission to Mars in the 2030s.
COVID-19 has infected 132,567 people around the world, up 5.6 percent from Thursday. Four-thousand nine hundred forty-seven people have died from the virus.
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foxnews--2020-03-13--FDA authorizes coronavirus test that could drastically speed up screening

The Food and Drug Administration has issued emergency authorization for a new coronavirus test that will speed up screening for the deadly bug by tenfold , the Swiss diagnostics maker Roche said Friday .
The new tests can provide results in 3.5 hours and can produce up to 4,128 results each day — a boost to tests the manufacturer has offered until now , the company said .
“ We are increasing the speed definitely by a factor of 10 , ” Thomas Schinecker , head of the drugmaker ’ s diagnostics unit , told Bloomberg .
The “ emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clears the tests to be deployed in the U.S. and markets accepting the CE mark , which shows they conform to European standards .
The company said it is “ going to the limits of our production capacity ” to deliver as many of the faster tests as possible .
“ The virus is infecting people in an exponential way .
We knew we had to go to the high through-put systems , ” Roche Diagnostics head Thomas Schinecker told Reuters .
“ This will help isolate patients who are infected , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ QUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS ?
ASK AN EXPERT The tests will run through two of Roche ’ s diagnostics systems , the cobas 6800 , which can process 1,440 samples per day , and the cobas 8800 that can do more than 4,100 .
Worldwide , a total of 695 cobas 6800 systems are installed and 132 of the 8800s , with “ more than 100 ” in the United States , the company said .
Roche is speaking with the CDC about deploying more systems where they are most needed , including in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s 41 deaths have occurred .
IS CORONAVIRUS A THREAT TO CHILDREN ?
HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE Testing for the novel coronavirus in the U.S. has been hampered by flawed kits distributed by the federal government in February , which gave some false results .
Now , the country is grappling with more than 1,660 infections .
Globally , more than 122,000 people have contracted the deadly bug .
Click for more from NYPost.com .

Sign up for our special edition newsletter to get a daily update on the coronavirus pandemic.
The FDA has issued emergency authorization for an automated coronavirus test that will speed up screening for the deadly bug by tenfold, the Swiss diagnostics maker Roche said Friday.
The new tests can provide results in 3.5 hours and can produce up to 4,128 results each day — a boost to tests the manufacturer has offered until now, the company said.
“We are increasing the speed definitely by a factor of 10,” Thomas Schinecker, head of the drugmaker’s diagnostics unit, told Bloomberg.
Approval for automated testing came Friday, as New York got the additional federal go-ahead to begin contracting with 28 “top tier” labs around the state to perform coronavirus tests.
“That will increase dramatically our testing capacity,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at an afternoon press conference.
Cuomo estimated that by Wednesday, 6,000 tests per day will be performed.
“To date, we’ve done about 3,000 tests” in New York state total, the governor said.
“So that is a very big difference. And testing is the most important thing we can be doing right now. We will be able to do in one day all of the testing we’ve done to date, believe it or not.”
NYU Langone Health and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in the city are among the 28 labs now coming online, Cuomo said.
Some of the 28 labs are equipped to run the newly-approved automated tests, Cuomo said.
Roche said it is “going to the limits of our production capacity” to deliver as many of the faster tests as possible.
“The virus is infecting people in an exponential way. We knew we had to go to the high through-put systems,” Schinecker told Reuters. “This will help isolate patients who are infected, so you can keep the others healthy.”
The tests will run through two of Roche’s diagnostics systems, the cobas 6800, which can process 1,440 samples per day, and the cobas 8800 that can do more than 4,100.
Worldwide, a total of 695 cobas 6800 systems are installed and 132 of the 8800s, with “more than 100” in the United States, the company said.
Roche is speaking with the CDC about deploying more systems where they are most needed, including in Washington state, where 31 of the nation’s 41 deaths have occurred.
Testing for the novel coronavirus in the US has been hampered by flawed kits distributed by the federal government in February, which gave some false results.
Now, the country is grappling with more than 1,660 infections. Globally, more than 122,000 people have contracted the deadly bug.
With Post wires


foxnews--2020-03-16--NYPD transit chief tests positive for the coronavirus: report

NYPD Transit Bureau Chief Edward Delatorre has tested positive for the coronavirus , the New York Post has learned .
@ @ @ @ @ he became ill with a fever last week and was administered a test , according @ @ @ @ @ the situation .
As of late Sunday , Delatorre ’ s fever had subsided .
@ @ @ @ @ at his Bronx home , where he has been in “ good spirits , ” @ @ @ @ @ department has been working to determine what employees Delatorre came into contact with while he @ @ @ @ @ more from the New York Post .

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NYPD Transit Bureau Chief Edward Delatorre has tested positive for the coronavirus, The Post has learned.
Delatorre received the result after he became ill with a fever last week and was administered a test, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
As of late Sunday, Delatorre’s fever had subsided. The chief has been resting at his Bronx home, where he has been in “good spirits,” the sources said.
The department has been working to determine what employees Delatorre came into contact with while he was infected.
On any given day in his role as the transit chief, Delatorre comes into contact with hundreds of cops, sources said.
The NYPD would not confirm or deny Delatorre’s diagnosis.
Additional reporting by Joe Marino


foxnews--2020-03-16--Ex-passenger tested positive for coronavirus, but 'thousands' left cruise ship without screening: re

Ex-passenger tested positive for coronavirus, but 'thousands' left cruise ship without screening: report

Thousands of people were allowed off a cruise ship in Miami on Sunday without undergoing medical screenings — just days after a passenger who had been on board tested positive for the coronavirus , according to a report .
The passenger disembarked from the MSC Meraviglia on March 8 in Miami and four days later , health officials in Canada informed the cruise liner of the person ’ s COVID-19 diagnosis , the Miami Herald reported .
By that time , the ship had sailed off with 103 passengers and crew members who had been on board with the patient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DURING THE CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK : SHOULD I CANCEL MY CRUISE ?
When the company learned of the diagnosis , MSC Cruises said it isolated in individual cabins seven crew members who had been in close contact with the person .
But none of the 3,877 passengers on board were tested for the deadly disease before being allowed off the ship at PortMiami Sunday — with some heading straight to Miami International Airport for flights home across the country .
The Broward-based company said no one on board had exhibited symptoms .
FOLLOW US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We worked closely with the Health Authorities in Canada , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and PortMiami and followed all protocols as required , ” MSC Cruises spokesperson Alyssa Goldfarb told the Herald in a statement .
“ MSC Meraviglia received clearance after health authorities reviewed all the necessary documentation regarding the health of passengers and crew on board today and throughout the cruise.
” Health officials have said patients may have the virus even if they do not show symptoms .
This story was originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Thousands of people were allowed off a cruise ship in Miami on Sunday without undergoing medical screenings — just days after a passenger who had been on board tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a report.
The passenger disembarked from the MSC Meraviglia on March 8 in Miami and four days later, health officials in Canada informed the cruise liner of the person’s COVID-19 diagnosis, the Miami Herald reported.
By that time, the ship had sailed off with 103 passengers and crew members who had been on board with the patient and thousands of new travelers.
When it learned of the diagnosis, MSC Cruises said it isolated in individual cabins seven crew members who had been in close contact with the person.
But none of the 3,877 passengers on board were tested for the deadly disease before being allowed off the ship at PortMiami Sunday — with some heading straight to Miami International Airport for flights home across the country.
The Broward-based company said no one on board had exhibited symptoms.
“We worked closely with the Health Authorities in Canada, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and PortMiami and followed all protocols as required,” MSC Cruises spokesperson Alyssa Goldfarb told the Herald in a statement.
“MSC Meraviglia received clearance after health authorities reviewed all the necessary documentation regarding the health of passengers and crew on board today and throughout the cruise.”
Health officials have said patients may have the virus even if they do not show symptoms.