It was earlier reported that an 83-year-old passenger of a Royal Caribbean cruise ship Quantum of the Seas was tested positive for COVID-19, forcing the cruise ship to return to Singapore on Wednesday (9 Dec).
However, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release on Thursday (10 Dec) that the aforementioned passenger does not have COVID-19 infection.
“A final confirmatory test conducted by the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) on 10 December 2020 has confirmed that the 83 year-old male Singaporean on board Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas does not have COVID-19 infection,” the Ministry wrote.
According to MOH, the sample taken from the individual this morning came back negative for the virus.
“This follows two Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests conducted yesterday by NPHL, one on a re-test of his original sample, and the other on a fresh sample taken yesterday, which had also come back negative,” added the Ministry.
Following this, MOH noted that it has rescinded the Quarantine Orders of the 83-year-old’s close contacts, who had earlier been placed on quarantine as a precautionary measure while investigations were ongoing.
The Ministry went on to say that it will support the laboratory on board the Quantum of the Seas in its review of its testing processes.
Read: Netizens Lambast Passengers Of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship For Travelling During Pandemic After Guest Tested Positive For COVID-19 | Netizens Slam Ministry Chan Chun Sing’s Remark On Royal Caribbean COVID-19 Case; Criticise Govt For Supposedly Gambling With People’s Lives
