(Stock Photo)

Test results returned last night for three crew members of the Carnival Fascination cruise line proved negative for the coronavirus, COVID-19.

The ship docked in Barbados yesterday, a day earlier than scheduled after being turned back by St. Lucia.  

The ship had reported that three crew members had exhibited flu-like symptoms earlier in the week and two had tested positive for Influenza A, while the other had not.

On arrival in Barbados yesterday afternoon, local health authorities boarded and took swabs from the “at risk” individuals.  

These swabs were sent to the Best-dos Santos Public Health Laboratory for testing and the results released late last night were that all three were negative for the virus.

Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kenneth George, said that as soon as the results were known, the ship was given the all-clear and the passengers allowed to disembark.  The ship is carrying 2,281 passengers, including 37 Barbadians, and 896 crew members.

Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, in a press conference yesterday, said that the Barbados Government had allowed the ship to come into the island because, unlike St. Lucia, Barbados had the capability to test for COVID-19.

She said that while the ship reported that everyone was asymptomatic by the time it reached Barbados, it was out of “an abundance of caution” that health authorities decided to carry out the tests and to confine the passengers and crew to the ship until the results were known.

joy.springer@barbados.gov.bb

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