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Singapore Says Cruise Ship Returns After Suspected COVID-19 Case

Reuters

   Singapore's tourism board said on Wednesdaythata cruise ship operated
   by Genting Cruise Lines on a so-called cruise to nowhere had returned
   to the city-state after a 40-year-old passenger was suspected to have
   contracted COVID-19.

   "The passenger was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case
   onland, andwas immediately isolated as part of onboard health
   protocols," the tourism board said in a statement.

   It said the passengertook aPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test
   onboard, tested positiveand had been conveyed toahospital for
   furthertesting toconfirmthe result.

   The passenger's three traveling companions were identified and
   isolated, the tourism board said. They have tested negative for
   COVID-19 and further contact tracing was being done.

   All leisure activitiesaboard theDream Cruises' World Dream ship had
   ceased and passengers had been asked to stay in their cabins until test
   results arereceivedand contact tracing was complete, the tourism board
   said.

   Genting did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

   The ship left Singapore on Sunday for a four-day cruise, according to a
   media report.

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

   Singapore, which has seen relatively few domestic COVID-19 cases,
   launched round-tripscruseson luxury liners in November, which have no
   port of call and last only a few days.

   Such cruises have become popular during the pandemic and are restricted
   to Singapore residents.

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