JAKARTA, Indonesia

After 1,600 cruise-goers had to exit a ship due to a virus scare, the elderly Singaporean man who initially tested positive has now tested negative, said local officials Thursday.

The initial positive result for the passenger, 83, led to an hours-long process of clearing the Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas after the ship returned to Singapore a day ahead of schedule.

The Health Ministry said in a press release that a sample taken from the man on Thursday morning came back negative for the virus.

The ministry rescinded precautionary quarantine orders on his close contacts, adding that it would “support the laboratory onboard the Quantum of the Seas in its review of its testing processes.”

The vessel began sailing again this month, after a long halt due to the pandemic, as part of a pilot scheme that allows round trips with no ports of call.

* Writing by Rhany Chairunissa Rufinaldo from Anadolu Agency's Indonesian-language service in Jakarta