TOKYO, Japan (AFP): At least 10 people on a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Japan's health minister said on Wednesday (Feb 5). Japan quarantined the vessel carrying 3,711 people and was testing those onboard for the virus after a former passenger was diagnosed with the illness after disembarking in Hong Kong. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato told reporters that specimens were collected from more than 200 people on board the vessel Diamond Princess. Around 20 cases had been confirmed in Japan excluding the cruise ship infections, among them citizens returning from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the centre of the outbreak. Two returning Japanese citizens initially refused to be tested at all, though they later changed their mind.

Source: The Star February 05, 2020 00:59 UTC