There Is A Passenger Who Is Positive For COVID-19, World Dream Cruise Ships Back To Singapore

World Dream Cruise Ship Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Dickelbers)

JAKARTA - Singapore's tourism board said a cruise ship managed by Genting Cruise Lines had returned to port after starting its cruise, as a passenger was suspected of contracting COVID-19 and all guests were asked to stay in their cabins.

"The passenger was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case on land, and was immediately isolated as part of the onboard health protocol", the tourism board said in a statement Wednesday local time.

It said the 40-year-old passenger tested positive through a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on board and was taken to the hospital for further confirmatory testing. The passenger tested negative in a mandatory pre-departure antigen rapid test on July 11.

Three of the passengers' travel companions were identified and isolated, the tourism board said. They have been tested for COVID-19 and have tested negative, with further contact tracing being carried out.

All onboard recreational activities on the World Dream cruise ship, part of the Dream Cruises fleet have been suspended and passengers have been asked to stay in their cabins until test results are out and contact tracing is complete, the tourism board said.

Contactless food is delivered directly to their cabin. Several guests on the docked boat were chatting with each other across their private balconies.

Separately, Genting did not immediately give any comment. Meanwhile, the ship left Singapore on Sunday for a four-day cruise, according to media reports.

The global shipping industry has taken a major hit from the coronavirus pandemic, with some of the earliest major outbreaks found on cruise ships.

Singapore, which has seen relatively few domestic COVID-19 cases, launched a 'round trip' on a luxury boat in November, which has no port of destination and lasts only a few days.

To note, this type of cruise ship trip became popular during the pandemic. Passengers are also limited to Singapore citizens.