In accordance with French Polynesia’s rules that visitors get tested four days after arrival, the woman was tested on the ship and when the results came back positive, she and a traveling companion were immediately isolated and all passengers and crew were directed to stay in their cabins.
After two days in Bora Bora
The ship, which had just spent two days in Bora Bora, turned around Saturday night and went back to its Papeete, Tahiti, homeport, arriving Sunday morning.
There, an RT-PCR tested confirmed the woman has coronavirus, although she is asymptomatic.
The passenger and traveling companion were taken ashore to isolate
According to an official government statement, her traveling companion tested negative. They were immediately taken ashore to a dedicated isolation place.
The statement said contacts on board were quickly tested, with all negative results so far. Samples of passengers and crew underwent RT-PCR tests, and the results are expected Tuesday.
340 people on board including 148 passengers
The ship was carrying 340 people, including 148 passengers. Paul Gauguin has capacity for 332 passengers but is operating at lower occupancy as part of its COVID-19 protocols.
The ship resumed sailing July 18 for local residents and opened to international travelers on July 29. French Polynesia began welcoming visitors of all nationalities July 15.
Visitors are required to be tested for COVID-19 within 72 hours of boarding a flight to French Polynesia and then to undergo a second test four days after arrival.
