Royal Caribbean passenger tests negative for Covid-19 after retest and 2nd fresh test

[SINGAPORE] The 83-year-old man on board Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas cruise ship has tested negative for Covid-19, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday night (Dec 9).

Earlier, the MOH announced that the man had tested positive for the Covid-19 infection on Wednesday morning, and was immediately isolated.

He had reported to the on-board medical centre with diarrhoea, and was tested for the infection using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test equipment on the ship.

His original PCR sample was retested at the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) and came back negative for Covid-19 infection, the MOH said. A second fresh sample was tested and also found to be negative.

The NPHL will conduct another test on Thursday to confirm his Covid-19 status, added the ministry.

All the identified close contacts of the case have been isolated as a precautionary measure and all passengers will undergo mandatory Covid-19 testing before they are allowed to leave the terminal at Marina Bay Cruise Centre.

There were six new coronavirus cases confirmed as at Wednesday night, taking Singapore's total to 58,291.

All six cases were imported and had been placed on stay-home notice on arrival in Singapore, said the MOH.

The new cases comprised one Singaporean, two permanent residents and three work permit holders who are currently employed in Singapore.

There were no cases from worker dormitories and none in the community.

THE STRAITS TIMES