88 Additional COVID-19 Cases on Japanese Cruise Ship... Total Increases to 542 (Update)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] An additional 88 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) have been identified on the cruise ship "Diamond Princess," which has the second highest number of confirmed cases after mainland China. This brings the total number of confirmed cases on the cruise ship to 542. Among the newly confirmed cases, 65 are reported to be asymptomatic carriers without fever or cough.

According to Japanese local media such as Kyodo News, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced on the 18th that 88 more COVID-19 infections were confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is docked and quarantined at Yokohama Port. Since the ship was docked and quarantined at Yokohama Port on the 3rd, the cumulative number of confirmed cases on board has increased to 542, accounting for more than 14% of the total 3,711 passengers and crew. Among the newly confirmed cases, 65 are asymptomatic carriers without symptoms such as fever or cough.

The total number of confirmed cases in Japan, including those on the cruise ship, has surpassed 600. With 88 new confirmed cases on the cruise ship and 3 newly confirmed cases in Wakayama Prefecture, a total of 91 new cases were added, raising the total number of infections in Japan to 611. The total cumulative number of confirmed cases outside China is reported to be 988, with more than half of these cases occurring in Japan.

The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare stated that as of this day, tests have been completed for 2,404 passengers on the cruise ship. There remains a possibility of additional infections among the remaining 1,307 passengers who have not yet been tested. Japanese authorities plan to allow passengers who test negative to disembark starting from the 19th. Earlier, Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference following a cabinet meeting on the 18th that samples had been collected from all passengers on the Diamond Princess, and those who test negative for the virus would be allowed to disembark starting on the 19th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.