The Hong Kong government has ordered cruises to nowhere from the self governing region of China to be suspended after a Covid-19 scare on Spectrum of the Seas, South China Morning Post reports.

Nine passengers had been in a close contact with a suspected Covid-19 case. There were 2,500 passengers and 1,200 crew on board the Royal Caribbean International ship at the time.

All onboard were tested and all test results came in as negative.

Bars, restaurants and gyms are among the 15 types of premises that the government has demanded to close for two weeks to curb the spread of the virus, the report said.