CORONAVIRUS DEATHS NEAR 500; THOUSANDS STRANDED ON CRUISE SHIPS

Thousands of passengers became stranded aboard two cruise ships in Japan and Hong Kong on Wednesday due to reports of coronavirus infections on board, with the death toll from the outbreak in China climbing to nearly 500.

Japan confirmed that at least 10 people on a cruise ship have been infected with the new coronavirus, which originated in China. The patients, including nine passengers and one crew member, were from Japan, Hong Kong, Australia, the US and the Philippines. They were being taken to hospital in Kanagawa prefecture, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said at a news conference.

About 3,700 passengers and crew members were to remain on the Diamond Princess ship for another 14 days “as a general rule,” he said.

The Philippines Foreign Ministry said it was “monitoring the welfare” of the 538 Filipinos on board.

A previous passenger from Hong Kong was confirmed to have the virus on Saturday after disembarking from the ship there, bringing the total number of infections in Japan to 33.

A cruise ship with 1,800 people on board was also being held at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak cruise terminal after officials in China informed the cruise operator that three previous passengers had tested positive for the coronavirus. The ship arrived in Hong Kong Wednesday morning after Taiwanese officials refused entry.

Authorities said they were carrying out testing and sterilization on board. Three crew members with a fever were placed in isolation in a Hong Kong hospital, and more than 20 crew members who reported symptoms were being examined, according to local broadcaster RTHK.

DPA, 05TH FEBRUARY, 2020