However, a few miles inland, the tourists on the cruise ship MSC Grandiosa are still comfortably swaying to latin music and sipping cocktails by the pool. Despite the blockade that caused many hotels and resorts to close, the luxury yacht MSC Grandiosa still organizes seven-night resort transfers across the Mediterranean Sea. Passengers at the station before boarding the tourist train MSC Grandiosa in Civitavecchia (Italy). Celebrating Easter offshore After cruise ships became the source of the Covid-19 outbreaks, Grandiosa attempted to devise a new route of movement, including a strict set of anti-epidemic rules approved by the Italian authorities. , aimed at creating a “health bubble” on the deck. Passengers and crew are tested before and during excursions. They are required to wear masks and bracelets to track, and check their temperature regularly. Ship disinfection and cleaning activities have also been carried out to prevent outbreaks. Foreign tourists must have a negative Covid-19 test paper within 48 hours of departure. In addition, only residents of the Schengen countries, along with Romania, Croatia and Bulgaria, can book under the Covid-19 insurance policy. On January 31, Grandiosa yacht left the port of Civitavecchia (Italy) for a week-long Easter vacation. Despite the capacity of 6,000 people, the train can accommodate only 2,000 passengers. The cruise is expected to call at Naples, Valletta and Malta before returning to ports in Genoa. Although the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains a threat, passengers are allowed to enjoy pre-pandemic normality, including the freedom to eat and drink in restaurants or rest by the pool without wearing a mask. The scene of tourists enjoying sunbathing and relaxing by the crowded pool. “After a serious year of implementing the restrictive rules, we think we have the right to rest, relax for a week,” Stefania Battistoni (39), a teacher in Italy, told AP. This single mother drove overnight to bring her two sons and mother from Bolzano to the port, on this trip. On the Grandiosa, passengers have the opportunity to enjoy activities that have been largely closed in Italy and Europe over the past year: theaters, restaurants, duty-free shopping and live music at the shops. bar. “The outing excursion is the best mental health option for our family after a year of limited, shutdown,” said Federico Marzocchi, who joins his wife and 10-year-old son Matteo, said. In the meantime, the rest of Italy is back in full shutdown this Easter in an attempt to reduce the outbreak of the disease. In addition, the government has imposed a 5-day quarantine order on people entering from other EU countries to prevent tourists who want to travel to Italy to relax. Trouble from the yachts The pandemic has severely reduced the number of passengers on board cruise ships, from a record 30 million people in 2019 to about 350,000 people since July 2020, according to Cruise Lines International (CLIA) – major marine tourism association best of the world. Currently, there are less than 20 yachts in operation globally. The MSC Grandiosa is currently the only ship in service in the world. According to independent consultancy Bermello Ajamii & Partners, only 23 cases of Covid-19 have appeared on board since the industry re-started in the summer of 2020, with an infection rate for passengers of 0.006. %. The European tourism industry is looking to reopen next spring, from April onwards. However, some critics point out that travel companies should take advantage of this long break to solve problems related to the working and working environment in the industry. “Travel agencies could have used this ‘Covid-19 vacation’ to address their negative impacts on public health and the environment,” says Jim Ace, from the group that works for Stand Earth environment, said. “Every big yacht uses the cheapest and dirtiest burning fuel available. They are large, polluting the air and water and contribute to climate change. They are toxic to the port environment and spread disease. They exploit the workers and put the passengers in danger, ”said Ace.

The first party was at Amsterdam’s Vondelpark – a green space with a stunning view in the Dutch capital. Hundreds of people celebrate the warm spring days of February together. “This gathering is illegal but we still participate. They couldn’t make us stay at home. We’re bored, ”one woman told Dutch TV. Crowds attend the Field Lab’s concert in early March. Photo: CNN. Video recorded by a local television channel in Amsterdam showed the excitement of young people present at Vondelpark. One guest in attendance stated that they were “fed up” with the epidemic prevention rules. After that, the police arrived and dispersed this crowd. The mayor decided to close all entrances to the park, except for the two gates, so that everyone could come here. The second gathering took place only a few kilometers away at the Ziggo Dome theater. Hundreds of people showed up to enjoy the songs that folk singer André Hazes, Jr. Shows. But this time, the police did not show up. The concert is approved by the Dutch government, not limited to a maximum of 30 people in the enclosed space. Audiences were tested negative for Covid-19 for no more than 48 hours prior to the concert. They also wear electronic bracelets for easy tracing. The concert is essentially part of a test backed by the Dutch government to see if the event planning industry can stand its ground amid a slow rollout of the Covid-19 vaccination. CNN . Vivian Nagelkerke (26), who went to the concert with a friend, said: “It’s like a dream where everything is allowed. I felt lightheaded to go back to the theater. Before the pandemic, I attended 3 concerts a week ”. The attendees have their temperature measured and must have a Covid-19 test paper no more than 48 hours before entering The Ziggo Dome theater. Photo: Ferdy Damman / AFP. Fun mouse experiment Eight mass gatherings took place in March as a result of months-long negotiations between the Dutch government and Field Lab – a group of researchers. They held a series of events, from dance festivals, seat concerts to soccer matches, to study the behavior of attendees, while also monitoring any possible infections. happening. “So far, the ‘lab rats’ (referring to event participants) are very happy to be involved in the study,” said Andreas Voss, professor of infection control at Radboud University, laughing. Although no exact results have been released yet, Voss said by comparing data from concert attendees to national population data, the team believes attending an event can help. strict management with the early Covid-19 test is no more risky than daily life in the Netherlands. “To date, the risk has been mostly lower than in untested cases, out of the event. We are sure to have promising results, ”he said. The Dutch Minister of Health agrees. In early March, he called the Field Lab’s initial discovery “truly encouraging”. Cheerful, happy crowd attending the concert after such a long time. Photo: Ferdy Damman / AFP. Of course, there is still a risk not only for those who have attended the events, but also to whom they subsequently come into contact with. Therefore, the organizers asked the attendees to limit their contact with anyone in the vulnerable group, and to test Covid-19 5 days after the end of the event. Field Lab reported that to date, only 5 out of 6,000 people who have attended public events they organize are positive for Covid-19. However, they are not sure if the cases were transmitted from the Field Lab event. Emily Denissen “felt flustered” to attend public events. Photo: NVCC. Emily Denissen, who celebrated her 32nd birthday at one of Field Lab’s concerts, happily recounted: “What happened that night was amazing. Everyone to relax, enjoy their best ”. Part of the story “let loose” means forgetting about the epidemic room rules for the audience. Once they have consumed alcohol, many people take off their masks and forget about social distance. However, that was not too surprising, nor was it bad. “We are not influencing them in any way,” said Professor Voss. We also do not prompt to follow the rules, because we want to know what will happen in real-life events. “It is true that during music festivals masks are removed more quickly,” he said. Meanwhile, at auditorium events, business conferences and soccer matches, more than 94% of attendees maintained wearing masks. Despite being the subject of research, Niels Fekken (21 years old) can not hide the happiness of attending a concert after more than a year at home due to the pandemic. “I can barely describe it with words. Unbelievable. From last year until now, maybe this is the first time I feel so happy, “Fekken shared with CNN .