Thousands held on cruise ship amid Covid fear in Hong Kong

(CNN) More than 3,000 passengers and crew were detained on a large cruise liner in Hong Kong on Wednesday after a Covid alert prompted authorities to order the ship to return to port. Passengers and staff were allowed to disembark on Wednesday evening after being tested for Covid-19, a Royal Caribbean representative told CNN. The ship was ordered to return to port after nine passengers were identified as close contacts of a preliminary positive case aboard Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas, which was on a "cruise to nowhere" around the South China Sea. [Hong Kong government statement.] About 2,500…