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SINGAPORE: Two additional COVID-19 tests for an 83-year-old cruise passenger who tested positive for the virus came back negative, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Wednesday (December 9) evening.
The man, who was a passenger on Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas, tested positive for COVID-19 while on board the ship.
The man had reported to the ship’s medical center Tuesday night with diarrhea. She was tested for COVID-19 using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kit on board the ship as part of the protocols, the Health Ministry said.
After returning to Singapore, the man retested his original sample at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and a second sample was taken for confirmatory testing.
READ: Royal Caribbean cancels December 10 cruise after passenger on previous trip tested positive for COVID-19
Both samples came back negative, the Health Ministry said.
Another test will be conducted on Thursday to confirm the man’s COVID-19 status, the Health Ministry added.
All of the man’s identified close contacts were isolated as a precaution.
“As part of routine post-arrival protocols, all passengers will undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing before they are allowed to leave the terminal at the Marina Bay Cruise Center,” the Health Ministry said.
As of Wednesday, Singapore has reported a total of 58,891 COVID-19 cases.
The Quantum of the Seas ship began sailing again this month as part of a pilot plan that allows round trips without ports of call.
Royal Caribbean International said in a separate statement that all guests and crew members who had close contact with the man have been identified, isolated and subsequently tested negative for the virus.
READ: Royal Caribbean COVID-19 Case ‘Not Unexpected’, Government Prepared For It: Chan Chun Sing
Before boarding the ship on Monday, the 1,680 passengers and 1,148 crew members had passed a mandatory PCR test for COVID-19, said Annie Chang, director of cruise development at the Singapore Tourism Board.
On Wednesday, Royal Caribbean said it decided to cancel its Quantum of the Seas cruise on Thursday (December 10) “in an overabundance of caution.”
The decision comes after Royal Caribbean said earlier in the day that Thursday’s sailing would proceed as scheduled.
Departures will resume on December 14, Royal Caribbean said in an email Wednesday night.
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