SINGAPORE: A passenger on board a Royal Caribbean vessel tested positive for COVID-19 during a cruise to nowhere, prompting the ship to turn back ahead of schedule.
The case was detected on board the Quantum of the Seas ship, which began sailing again this month as part of a pilot scheme that allows round-trips with no ports of call.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"One guest aboard the Quantum of the Seas tested positive for coronavirus after checking in with our medical team," Royal Caribbean International said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 9).
All guests and crew who had close contact with the case had been identified, isolated and subsequently tested negative for the virus, it added.
The cruise ship is returning to port "in accordance with government protocols, and will debark guests after a review of contact tracing is completed", Royal Caribbean International said.
The cruise line is also working with the Singapore Government to "protect the health and safety of guests and crew".
AdvertisementAdvertisement"We worked closely with the Government to develop a thorough system that tests and monitors all guests and crew and follows public health best practices," it said.
"That we were able to quickly identify this single case and take immediate action is a sign that the system is working as it was designed to do."
[h=3]READ: 2 cruise lines allowed to offer Singapore residents 'cruises to nowhere' from November[/h]In October, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) announced that two cruise lines - Genting and Royal Caribbean - will be resume cruises at a maximum capacity of 50 per cent.
AdvertisementCruises are required to comply with safe management measures, such as social distancing and mask-wearing.
Regular inspections will also be conducted onboard to ensure compliance. Cruise lines found to be non-compliant will be subjected to penalties, including fines, suspension of sailings and revocation of their CruiseSafe certification, which is required for all cruise lines sailing out of Singapore.
Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas vessel started sailing for three- and four-night cruises from Dec 1.
The vessel features an upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which will continuously supply "100 per cent fresh, filtered air" from outside the ship to replace used air onboard", the cruise line said.
[h=3]READ: Genting Cruise Lines to hire Singaporeans for ship World Dream as cruises prepare to set sail again[/h]CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE
In the event of a COVID-19 case, affected passengers, crew and their close contacts will be immediately isolated, STB said on Oct 8.
"Deep cleaning on board the ship will be carried out in accordance with guidelines, and leisure activities on-board will cease immediately," STB's director for Cruise Development Annie Chang told CNA.
She added that COVID-19 tests are able to be carried out on board cruise ships.
With short itineraries and no port of calls, "the likelihood of an outbreak is assessed to be low given that all passengers and crew are tested".
"With the appropriate ... measures in place, such cruises are no less safe compared to other activities and settings that have since resumed," Ms Chang said.
"Contingency plans are in place in the unlikely event of an outbreak and this includes the ship returning to Singapore so passengers can disembark and medical support can be provided immediately if necessary."
Royal Caribbean is also providing "COVID-19 protection" to passengers, including 100 per cent credit towards a future cruise, in the event of a guest or any member of their travel party test positive for COVID-19 in the three weeks prior to their booking.
[h=3]READ: 12 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all imported[/h]Full refunds will also be provided if a guest, or any member of their travel party, tests positive during the cruise, it added.
Singapore has reported a total of 58,285 COVID-19 cases as of Tuesday.
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