ZCZC
BFF-06
CHINA-HEALTH-VIRUS-JAPAN-SHIP
Coronavirus cases on Japan ship rise to 355: minister
TOKYO, Feb 16, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The number of people who have tested
positive for the new coronavirus on a quarantined ship off Japan’s coast has
risen to 355, the country’s health minister said Sunday.
“So far, we have conducted tests for 1,219 individuals. Of those, 355
people tested positive. Of those, 73 individuals are not showing symptoms,”
Katsunobu Kato told a roundtable discussion on public broadcaster NHK — a
rise of 70 from the last government toll.
The new figures came as the United States was preparing to evacuate some
of its citizens from the Diamond Princess, which has been in quarantine since
February 5 in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo.
Hong Kong also said it would offer its 330 citizens on board the chance to
take a charter flight back.
“Based on the high number of COVID-19 cases identified onboard the Diamond
Princess, the Department of Health and Human Services made an assessment that
passengers and crew members onboard are at high risk of exposure,” the US
embassy said in a letter to its passengers.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0908 hrs