「どこにも行かないクルーズ」乗客コロナ感染で中断　シンガポール

【シンガポールＡＦＰ＝時事】シンガポール発着の「どこにも行かないクルーズ」の客船で１４日、乗客１人の新型コロナウイルス感染が確認され、予定より早く帰港したと、地元メディアが伝えた。（写真はシンガポールのマリーナベイ・クルーズセンターに停泊するドリームクルーズの客船）
　寄港しない「どこにも行かないクルーズ」は、新型ウイルス流行で打撃を受けた観光業の復興策の一環として、昨年運航が開始された。
　小さな都市国家シンガポールでは、新型ウイルスの流行は抑えられているが、出入国は大幅に制限されている。「どこにも行かないクルーズ」は、シンガポールを脱出したい人々の間で人気を博していた。
　船は１４日朝、乗客１人の感染が判明したことを受け、予定よりも数時間早くシンガポールの港に引き返した。
　ニュース専門局チャンネル・ニューズ・アジア（ＣＮＡ）はある乗客の話として、未明に船内アナウンスで乗客１人の感染判明が伝えられ、自室に戻るように言われたと報じた。ＰＣＲ検査で陽性結果が出たこの乗客は、乗船前に別の感染者と濃厚接触していたとみられるという。
　英字紙ストレーツ・タイムズによると、この乗客はワクチン接種を済ませており、乗船前の検査では陰性だった。
　マレーシアの複合企業ゲンティン・グループが所有・運航するクルーズ船は１１日夜に出港し、４日間の旅を予定していた。
　ＡＦＰは、ゲンティンにコメントを求めたが、これまでに回答は得られていない。同社は共有エリアを定期的に消毒するなど、多数の感染防止策を講じている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/15-14:48）

An ocean liner on a cruise to nowhere was forced to make an earlier-than-scheduled return to Singapore Wednesday after a coronavirus case was detected on board, authorities said.
The ship's 1,646 passengers and 1,249 crew members were initially asked to remain in their cabins as the vessel was disinfected and contact tracing conducted, but reportedly began disembarking in the evening.
The passenger was identified as a close contact of a confirmed case on land, and was immediately isolated as part of onboard health protocols, said Annie Chang, from Singapore Tourism Board.
The 40-year-old passenger, who had tested negative before boarding, was taken to hospital for further tests, and the health ministry later confirmed the passenger had the virus.
Local media reported the guest on the Dream Cruises ship was fully vaccinated.
Chang said that as part of onboard health protocols, the passenger's three travelling companions were identified and isolated. All have tested negative for the virus.
Passengers began disembarking late Wednesday after hours stuck inside their cabins, and most guests and crew were expected to finish leaving the vessel in the evening, the city-state's Straits Times newspaper said.
The cruises -- starting and ending in Singapore, with no stops -- were launched last year as part of the travel industry's attempt to bounce back from a pandemic-induced crunch.
They have proved popular among those seeking an escape from the tiny city-state, which has only had a mild outbreak but largely kept its borders closed.
The ship, owned and operated by Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group, left Singapore on Sunday evening for the four-day cruise and returned to port several hours earlier than scheduled.
Genting's Dream Cruises said it cancelled a voyage scheduled to depart later Wednesday, and that there had been no virus infections on any of its previous cruises.
A Royal Caribbean cruise to nowhere was also cut short in December after an elderly man tested positive. However, that case proved to be a false alarm, with subsequent results coming back negative.
The cruise industry worldwide is struggling to get back on its feet after voyages were halted at the start of the pandemic, and several vessels were hit by outbreaks.