A Silversea cruise passenger has tested positive for coronavirus in Brazil

This is a developing story.

A passenger on a Silversea cruise ship that departed from Rio de Janiero March 7 has tested positive for COVID-19 in Recife, Brazil.

In a statement, Silversea, a cruise line owned by Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said that a passenger began having respiratory troubles near Recife. The cruise line initiated its prevention protocol for COVID-19. Local authorities were contacted, and the positive test was reported Saturday.

“All guests and crew onboard are in their suites and Silversea is working with local authorities to finalize the next steps,” the company said in a statement.

There are currently 318 guests and 291 crew on board. No information about the passenger who tested positive was immediately available.

Royal Caribbean annouced Friday it was suspending voyages on all its lines, including Silversea, for a month.

This story was originally published March 14, 2020 at 3:40 PM.

Rob Wile

Miami Herald

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Rob Wile covers business, tech, and the economy in South Florida. He is a graduate of Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism and Columbia University. He grew up in Chicago.