Spectrum of the Seas suspends operations for 21 days after crew retested positive for COVID-19
Royal Caribbean International’s Spectrum of the Seas, moored at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. PHOTO: TYRONE SIU VIA REUTERS
LATEST: Royal Caribbean has been officially requested to suspend operations of the Spectrum of the Seas by Hong Kong’s health officials, after a re-positive overseas COVID-19 case emerged yesterday on the ship that caused the cancellation of the October 21, 2021 voyage.
The Centre of Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health of Hong Kong shared updates on the case in a press release this evening that the 40-year old sea crew has been disembarked and admitted to a hospital for further tests, where he tested negative for COVID-19; but positive for antibodies. Based on their epidemiological and laboratory findings, the case is compatible with a re-positive case. The patient has a ‘very low’ viral load of the virus.
CHP shared that its officers have boarded the ship to inspect the sanitary conditions and epidemiological investigations. Contact tracing of the case will continue and close contacts will be put under compulsory quarantine, while the ship has been placed under a compulsory testing notice. Anyone who has been present on the ship from September 30, 2021 to October 21, 2021 for more than two hours will be required to undergo compulsory testing.
As a result, for ‘prudence sake’, the CHP has requested Royal Caribbean to suspend the Spectrum of the Seas Hong Kong sailings for 21 days with immediate effect. This restriction will last until November 11, 2021.
Royal Caribbean however, shared in a press release that, “The same crew member was retested once again by The North Lantau Hospital Hong Kong Infection Control Centre (HKICC) and the result was negative.” and “the Department of Health continues to acknowledge the preliminary positive test result and has advised a suspension of operations for a minimum of 21 days.”
For now, the cruise line has only cancelled the October 24, 2021 sailing and shares that once there is ‘formal confirmation’ of the 21-day suspension, they will communicate any disruption to guests.
READ MORE
