TOKYO: An additional 39 people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the Japan coast have tested positive for the novel coronavirus Covid-2019, Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Wednesday, bringing the total to 174. "Out of 53 new test results, 39 people were found positive," he told reporters, adding that a quarantine official had also been infected with the virus. Family members of passengers onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where dozens of passengers were tested positive for coronavirus, wave and talk to them on the phone at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan. In recent days, testing has expanded to those with new symptoms or who had close contact with other infected passengers or crew. The ship is expected to stay in quarantine until Feb 19 – 14 days after the isolation period began.

Source: New Strait Times February 12, 2020 00:00 UTC