Video released by Royal Caribbean Group
There is an ‘exceptionally low’ risk that microscopic particles such as coronavirus can be carried between cabins or public rooms via the air-conditioning systems on a cruise ship, an independent study commissioned by Royal Caribbean Group has found.
After tests on Oasis of the Seas, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the National Research Institute found such particles were undetectable both in the air and on surfaces.
The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are built to continuously bring in ocean air through one side of the ship, filter it multiple times before it reaches staterooms and public areas, and maximise ventilation in every space for frequent air changes, says Royal Caribbean. The air is filtered again before it is exhausted from the opposite side of the ship.
However, Royal Caribbean Group is now adjusting settings to allow for the maximum changes of air per hour – twice the level recommend for land-based venues – and installing even finer filters.
The findings have been submitted as part of the recommendations by the Healthy Sail Panel, which aims to ensure a safe global return to cruising. The proposals are being considered by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To read an overview of the study, please click here
The study findings can be found here
For more information on Royal Caribbean Group’s healthy return to sailing, please click here