False positive on RCI

ROYAL Caribbean International (RCI) has welcomed the news from the Singapore Tourism Board of a false positive result for coronavirus for a recent Quantum of the Seas passenger (CW y’day).

Guests began disembarking from Quantum on Wed night, after she returned to Singapore that morning following the detection of a suspected coronavirus case on board.

The patient, an 83-year-old male, reported to the medical centre Tue night, where he was given a PCR test, and tested positive to coronavirus.

His original sample has since been retested, and has come back negative, following which a second fresh sample also came back negative.

A third test will be conducted today to confirm his status.

He was conveyed to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases at 2.30pm Wed, and is undergoing further tests.

Contact tracing began immediately after the positive test result, with all onboard leisure activities ceased, and passengers asked to remain in their rooms, while close contacts of the suspected case were identified and isolated.

Other passengers and crew members remained on board Quantum of the Seas until contact tracing was completed.

All passengers underwent an Antigen Rapid Test at Marina Bay Cruise Centre upon disembarkation, and after 14 days of self-monitoring, will receive a swab test at a designated government facility.

Royal Caribbean committed to working with the Government of Singapore to refine its protocols, and wished the passenger a speedy recovery.