CDC director says Covid cases on cruise ships surged 30-fold in two weeks

Cruise ships have seen a 30-fold increase in positive Covid-19 cases in the past two weeks, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a Senate hearing Tuesday.

The stark increase in cases comes after the agency warned against cruise ship travel, regardless of passengers’ vaccination status.

Ships operating in U.S. waters reported about 5,000 Covid cases from Dec. 15 through Dec. 29. Walensky didn’t provide updated figures on Tuesday.