Another 7 COVID-19 cases tied to Southeast Alaska cruise, bringing total to 10

Another seven people on a small cruise voyage in Southeast Alaska have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of associated cases to 10.

Six of the individuals are isolating in Juneau while four are isolating in Petersburg, the City and Borough of Juneau said in a statement Wednesday.

There were 162 fully vaccinated passengers and 52 crew members — some of whom were fully vaccinated — aboard the American Constellation, according to the City and Borough of Juneau. The cluster of cases initially emerged after three people, two of whom were fully vaccinated, tested positive last week while the ship was in Petersburg.

Those individuals and their close contacts stayed in Petersburg, Juneau officials said, while the rest of the passengers on the American Cruise Lines ship returned to Juneau, where the cruise ended. From there, guests traveled home while crew members stayed on board the ship.

Some of the people who newly tested positive received their results in Petersburg while others received them in Juneau, according to officials. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the individuals associated with the seven new cases were also fully vaccinated.

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The 43 people who remain on the cruise ship will undergo another round of testing Thursday, according to the City and Borough of Juneau.

Juneau officials said that “the potential risk of exposure to the public is low.”