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Coronavirus cases top 500 on cruise ship off Japan
YOKOHAMA, Japan, Feb 18, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Another 88 people from a cruise
ship off Japan have tested positive for the coronavirus, authorities said
Tuesday, as those free of the disease hoped they were spending their last
night on board before disembarking.
The new cases take the total from the Diamond Princess to 542 — easily the
biggest cluster outside the epicentre in China — as the cruise ship has
proved an especially virulent breeding ground for the virus despite
quarantine.
The new cases will be sent to specialised hospitals, the ministry said in a
statement, without giving further details such as their nationalities.
Sixty-five of those who tested positive were not yet showing symptoms.
Around 500 passengers will leave the vessel on Wednesday after testing
negative, a health ministry official said.
Britain became the latest country to offer its citizens a way off the boat,
saying it was “working to organise a flight back to the UK” as doubts grow
over the effectiveness of the quarantine measures with every spike in
positive cases.
Canada, Australia, Hong Kong and South Korea have already said they will
evacuate their citizens from the ship, following the lead from the United
States, which flew home around 300 Americans on Monday — including more than
a dozen who had tested positive.
“We have done tests for everyone (on the ship),” Japanese Health Minister
Katsunobu Kato told reporters.
“Some results have already come out… and for those whose test results are
already clear, we are working to prepare disembarkation,” he said.
In a letter sent to passengers, authorities explained that some test
results would take time to process and that therefore “we plan the
disembarkation to take place from 19 to 21 February”.
“If you and your roommate are both negative and have no fever of
respiratory symptoms, you will be able to prepare for disembarkation,” the
letter said.
But those who had close contact with anyone who tested positive will have
their quarantine reset to the last date.
Around 500 passengers will leave the vessel on Wednesday after testing
negative, a health ministry official said.
“They will go home on public transport but they will be taken by bus to
places such as stations,” he added, saying many of those disembarking will be
Japanese passengers.
The crew, some of whom have complained about conditions on board, are also
expected to remain to observe another quarantine period after the last
passengers leave the ship.
Japan has been forced to defend its policy amid criticism for the way it
handled the situation, with dozens of new infections detected almost daily
since the ship arrived in early February.
– Tokyo Marathon affected-
The Americans already evacuated will have to undergo another 14-day
quarantine in the United States.
Canada said Tuesday it had arranged a chartered flight to repatriate
nationals from the Diamond Princess, but gave no details when it would take
place.
There were 256 Canadians on board the ship, with 32 so far testing positive
for the virus.
South Korea will send a presidential aircraft on Tuesday to fly back four
nationals and one Japanese spouse, an official told reporters.
There are 14 South Koreans on board, but the other ten have declined to be
evacuated because they live in Japan, the Yonhap news agency reported.
While foreign governments have couched their decision to remove citizens as
an attempt to reduce the burden on Japanese authorities, many have
interpreted the evacuations as tacit criticism of Tokyo’s handling of the
situation.
The US and Australia have told citizens that if they decline repatriation
and an additional 14-day quarantine, they will not be allowed home for at
least two weeks, suggesting they do not believe the ship-based quarantine
worked.
Japan has also confirmed at least 74 cases domestically — including many
involving people with no history of recent travel to China.
Authorities say the virus is now being transmitted locally, and have asked
citizens to avoid crowds and non-essential gatherings.
On Monday, the amateur portion of the Tokyo Marathon — which had been
expected to attract some 38,000 runners — was cancelled. Only elite athletes
will now take part.
The public celebration for Emperor Naruhito’s birthday has also been
scrapped.
BSS/AFP/ARS/1914 hrs