Number of people infected with Corona virus on Diamond Princess cruise ship increases to 174

The Japanese Ministry of Health has just announced that it has confirmed 40 more cases of the new coronavirus (nCoV) on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Yokohama, bringing the total number of infections on the ship to 174.

Among the new infections, four people have become seriously ill, including one foreigner and three Japanese.

There were 3,711 passengers and crew on board the ship. Health authorities had previously tested samples from all 273 people, including 120 people with symptoms such as fever and cough, and 153 people who had been in close contact with people with these symptoms.

Faced with the complicated situation of the epidemic, the Japanese Ministry of Defense deployed Self-Defense Forces personnel on the cruise ship to provide food to passengers and transfer necessary supplies.

Meanwhile, the quarantine period for Japanese citizens evacuated from the Chinese city of Wuhan by government-chartered plane is expected to end this week. Wuhan is the epicenter of the nCoV outbreak.

Since January 29, the Japanese government has sent chartered flights to Wuhan to bring back a total of 763 people, divided into 4 batches. And the 5th flight is expected to be carried out as soon as possible.

Those who test negative for the virus are housed in state-arranged facilities.

Japan's health ministry said evacuees from Wuhan must self-isolate for up to 12.5 days, the period the World Health Organization says the virus can spread.

It is expected that as early as today, February 12, those returning home in the first wave will finish their quarantine period if they test negative for nCoV.