On 10 March 2020, Costa Fortuna submitted its Maritime Declaration of Health to Singapore. The ship declared that none of its passengers and crew on board are infected or have showed other symptoms of respiratory illness.
The ship was allowed to berth, while the penalty for false declaration includes up to six months’ imprisonment.
Passengers began started to disembark at around 0900 hrs. As at 1200 hrs, more than 600 passengers have disembarked. Costa Fortuna has informed that all passengers and crew are well and had been checked by the ship doctor.
Upon disembarkation, they were subjected to thermal and visual screenings by MOH-licensed healthcare providers. Passengers have been bussed directly to the airport for their onward flights or to their hotels. Almost all foreign passengers will depart Singapore within the next two days.
All passengers who had recent travel history to affected regions within the last 14 days, have completed enhanced one-on-one screening by doctors licensed by the MOH and have been certified fit to travel.
These passengers had entered Singapore and boarded Costa Fortuna before the implementation of the travel ban and/or advisory on 4 March, 2359 hrs. These passengers will stay on board the ship and will be facilitated directly to the airport for their onward flights.
Since 24 January 2020, MPA has been applying temperature screening at all sea checkpoints, including cruise terminals, for all arriving passengers and crew. The cruise terminal operators have also implemented centralised outbound temperature screening for departing passengers with effect from 8 February 2020. Cruise lines also disinfect their ships in-between sailings.
MPA Singapore reports that the cruise ship began its ourney from Singapore disinfected, while all the passengers onboard had completed pre-embarkation checks based on prevailing policies for travel history and temperature screening as required by the cruise line and the terminal operator prior to boarding.
See also:
- 7 tips to cope with COVID-19 stress
- Debunking 7 myths around COVID-19
- Coronavirus: 6 tips to stay protected and not infected
