Singapore’s “cruise to nowhere” initiative has hit an early hurdle after Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas was forced to return to port due to a passenger testing positive to COVID-19.
Having completed its first short journey since March only days earlier, the ship only made it to day three of its latest four-day sailing following the positive test from an 83-year-old Singaporean man.
According to The Straits Times, which had a reporter on board, the vessel arrived back in Singapore at 8am Wednesday with the man, as well as all passengers and crew who came into close contact with him, immediately placed into isolation.
“Those close contacts have since tested negative following PCR testing and further contact tracing is ongoing. All on board leisure activities also ceased immediately and passengers were asked to stay in their cabins,” said director of cruise at the Singapore Tourism Board, Annie Chang.
There were 1,680 guests and 1,148 crew members on the sailing.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health said it had placed close contacts of the infected passenger into quarantine immediately upon disembarking while all other guests would be required to monitor their health for 14 days and undergo a virus test.
“Those who are not close contacts of the confirmed case will be allowed to debark and take a rapid antigen test as per original procedure. They can then go home and will be advised to monitor their health for the next 14 days,” Royal Caribbean’s Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, Angie Stephen, told The Straits Times.
“After that, all guests will take a polymerase chain reaction test with the expense borne by Royal Caribbean.”
Royal Caribbean became the second cruise ship operator to launch “cruise to nowhere” sailings out of Singapore this month after Genting Cruise Lines debuted the initiative in early November. Both companies had outlined a raft of COVID-19 safety measures including a 50% capacity limit, online only check-ins, all baggage being required to undergo a disinfection process and all passengers having to submit a negative COVID-19 test acquired prior to arrival.
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