“Sensationalist mainstream” media were all very quick to report that a Royal Caribbean passenger had tested positive for COVID-19, but less quick to report the false alarm that subsequently the guest had tested negative, twice, when he arrived ashore, after the cruise to nowhere was prematurely terminated.
Singapore Tourism Board director of cruise Ms Annie Chang said that the 83-year-old Singaporean guest, who had tested negative prior to boarding, had reported to the on-board medical centre with diarrhoea and had a mandatory PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, with a positive result, with the guest’s original sample retested at the National Public Health Laboratory, with a negative result and a second fresh sample tested by the laboratory also negative, with a further test due to be taken.
The over 1,600 guests and over 1,100 crew had to stay on board in Singapore, while contact tracing took place, but they were released late Thursday last night, it appears after waiting for Genting World, which is also sailing cruises to nowhere, boarded its guests.
It appears that Royal Caribbean had also cancelled its next four-night cruise, due to leave on Thursday, with the crew being retested and the ship-deep cleaned, which it appears may not have been necessary.
A major issue now though appears to be the accuracy and reliability of the tests taken on board, with similar tests having also proved faulty in the past.
A report by John Alwyn-Jones
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