SEAFREEZE AMERICA

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Coviid 19 infected seafareers breached isolation protocols and visited crowded bar

U.S. Seafoods issued an apology to Unalaska residents after crew members from the 'Seafreeze America' breached isolation protocols to visit a crowded local bar last weekend. The resulting widespread exposure forced the city to move from the “medium” to “high” coronavirus risk level after nearly a month and a half at the lower threshold. Dozens of locals who visited the Norwegian Rat Saloon have been asked to quarantine and test for the virus, if they haven’t been vaccinated. U.S. Seafoods were still trying to figure out exactly what happened that night, shortly after the 'Seafreeze America' arrived in port. The vessel was fishing for yellowfin sole in the Bering Sea last week when a few of the 51 crew members on board started feeling COVID-19 symptoms. The company tested them on board, and rerouted the vessel to Dutch Harbor to confirm the results and be closer to medical care. The ship was last in Dutch Harbor in late March when the company brought a group of new crew members on board. By the time they’d boarded, they had tested negative for COVID-19 two separate times, and gone through nearly 20 days of quarantine — though most of the quarantine was what’s known as “self-monitored,” without guards or security personnel ensuring compliance. The ship reached Unalaska on April 10, 2021, about 20 hours after crew members initially developed symptoms. Eight people onboard had tested positive at that point. All eight went immediately to Unalaska’s isolation bunkhouse while the rest of the crew stayed put. It appeared as many as four of the COVID-positive crew at Unalaska’s isolation facility decided to head to the bar just before midnight. Initial estimates from video footage indicated as many as 60 people could have been exposed at the Norwegian Rat that night. But some may not have been in close contact long enough to be considered at risk for catching COVID-19, and others may have been vaccinated. In the night of April 13, contact tracing from the bar was only about 40% complete. It was still too soon after the exposure to begin testing. The entire crew of the 'Seafreeze America' was ultimately tested or retested at the local clinic; 26 came back positive. Two were presumed positive but refused retesting. The U.S. Seafoods employees who breached isolation effectively fired themselves. The fishermen could face up to a $500 fine and even prison time. While the majority of COVID-positive crew have been flown on medical charters to Anchorage, the company was still working to figure out what’s next for the vessel and the crew still on board. Company officials are having almost daily calls with state and local officials to make a plan and keep them updated on the health status of remaining crew. They were also working to continue vaccinating the ship's crew. To date, just two of the 51 crew have been fully vaccinated and 14 have their first dose.