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SINGAPORE: An 83-year-old passenger tested positive for COVID-19 on board Quantum of the Seas by Royal Caribbean The cruise ship has been taken to hospital for “further testing,” the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Wednesday afternoon (December 9).
The passenger’s polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test sample would be retested at the National Public Health Laboratory and a second sample would be taken for “confirmatory testing,” said the Ministry of Health (MINSA) in a separate press release.
“If other tests are also positive for COVID-19 infection, it will be included as a case in our daily case count,” the MOH said.
All 1,680 passengers and 1,148 crew members aboard the Quantum of the Seas cruise ship tested negative for COVID-19 before the ship sailed on Monday, said Annie Chang, STB’s director of cruise development.
“As part of existing infection control protocols, the remaining passengers and crew on board will remain on the ship until contact tracing is complete,” added Ms. Chang.
READ: Royal Caribbean cruise passenger tests positive for COVID-19, ship returns to Singapore
They will have to stay on the ship until Genting Cruise Line’s World Dream cruise ship completes boarding of all passengers for their next sailing. This is to avoid any mix between the passengers and the crew of both ships, Ms. Chang added.
World Dream arrived at the Marina Bay Cruise Center this morning and is expected to complete boarding for all passengers around 6pm.
“Passengers aboard Quantum of the Seas will continue to receive regular updates and services to make their stay more comfortable,” said Ms. Chang.
Passengers will undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing before leaving the terminal as part of regular post-arrival protocols, it said.
As a precautionary measure, they are also required to monitor their health for 14 days from the disembarkation date and undergo a swab test at a government-designated swab facility at the end of the follow-up period.
“Close contacts of the positive case who are identified and test negative for COVID-19 will be sent to a government-designated quarantine facility,” Ms Chang said.
READ: ‘I will definitely go again’ – Some Royal Caribbean passengers say they have no regrets going on a cruise ship that was interrupted by the COVID-19 case
83 YEAR OLD PASSENGER TESTED POSITIVE
The Quantum of the Seas ship returned to Singapore on Wednesday, a day ahead of schedule, after a passenger tested positive for COVID-19.
The cruise to nowhere sailed Monday and was sailing as part of a pilot plan that allows round-trip trips without ports of call.
The 83-year-old Singaporean passenger had presented to the medical center on board the ship with symptoms of diarrhea and underwent a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
READ: Royal Caribbean COVID-19 Case ‘Not Unexpected’, Government Prepared For It: Chan Chun Sing
After testing positive for COVID-19, all onboard leisure activities immediately ceased and passengers were asked to stay in their rooms, Chang said in an earlier update.
The passenger was isolated immediately after testing positive and his initial close contacts were identified and isolated. These close contacts have since tested negative after PCR testing and more contacts are being traced, the tourism board said.
Crew members who had close contact with the passenger were also identified, isolated and subsequently tested negative for COVID-19, Royal Caribbean said in a statement Wednesday morning.
Royal Caribbean previously said that the Quantum of the Seas was still scheduled to set sail for a cruise on Thursday and that it was implementing “improved sanitation” on board the ship.
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