Cruise passengers at Harrison Point

Seven passengers and a crew member who were aboard the SeaDream 1 now docked in Barbados are at the Harrison Point isolation centre in St Lucy with COVID-19.

Meanwhile, authorities are making arrangements for the others on the cruise liner whose COVID-19 tests were negative to return home.

Late Wednesday night, the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc revealed the Government had received a request for assistance from a cruise ship with suspected positive cases of COVID-19 which was due to arrive during the night.

Within hours Barbados made international headlines as the first ship to sail from here after the cruise hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic had to abort the trip.

The articles from reputable news networks quoted a reporter for Cruise Critic.com who was aboard the vessel.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George said that between Wednesday and Thursday they tested 83 people and eight came back positive and were taken to Harrison Point.

He said the first suspected case, a man, had respiratory problems, and his spouse also tested positive. (AC)