[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] After a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) boarded, a large Japanese cruise ship anchored off the coast of Yokohama, Japan, has been quarantined and tested, with confirmed cases emerging in large numbers for three consecutive days. On the 7th, 41 additional infected patients were confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases from this cruise ship to 61 in just three days.
According to NHK and other sources, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced that it had completed virus testing on samples collected from 273 of approximately 3,700 passengers and crew aboard the large cruise ship "Diamond Princess," which is anchored off Yokohama Port.
As a result, 61 people were confirmed to be infected with the novel coronavirus. Following 10 confirmed cases on the 5th and another 10 on the 6th, 41 additional positive cases were identified on this day alone. NHK reported that among the 20 confirmed cases found before the 6th, one patient was in serious condition due to underlying health issues.
Of the 41 newly confirmed infected patients, 21 were Japanese. Additionally, there were 8 Americans, 5 Australians, 5 Canadians, and one each from Argentina and the United Kingdom. By age group, the largest number was in their 70s with 21 cases, followed by 8 in their 60s, 6 in their 80s, and 3 in their 50s. Three people in their 20s to 40s, who had not tested positive in previous tests, were also confirmed. The confirmed passengers were sent to medical facilities in Kanagawa Prefecture, which includes Yokohama Port, as well as Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, and Shizuoka Prefectures.
Looking at the nationalities and origins of all 61 confirmed infected individuals, there were 28 Japanese, 11 Americans, 7 Australians, 7 Canadians, 3 from Hong Kong, 1 Argentine, 1 British, 1 Taiwanese, 1 Filipino, and 1 New Zealander. It is known that 9 Koreans were also aboard this cruise ship, but as of the morning of the 7th, none of them had been confirmed infected.
Earlier, the Ministry of Health collected samples from 273 people among the cruise ship’s passengers who had contact with infected Hong Kong residents or showed symptoms such as fever and cough. This measure was prioritized for all passengers after an 80-year-old man residing in Hong Kong, who had boarded the cruise ship, disembarked in Hong Kong on the 25th of last month and was confirmed infected with the novel coronavirus on the 2nd. The remaining passengers and crew are staying on board, considering the virus’s incubation period.
Katsunobu Kato, Japan’s Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, appeared at the House of Representatives Budget Committee on this day and stated that they would thoroughly manage the health of those on the cruise ship and prepare to conduct nationwide testing to prevent the virus from spreading across the country.
The Japanese government decided the previous day to refuse entry to foreign nationals aboard the Hong Kong-origin cruise ship "Westerdam," where suspected novel coronavirus cases had occurred. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced this at a meeting of the Novel Coronavirus Spread Prevention Headquarters held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo the previous night, adding that similar measures would be taken if similar cases arise in the future.
Meanwhile, on this day at around 10:15 a.m., the Japanese government repatriated 198 people, including Japanese nationals, from Wuhan, China, via the fourth chartered flight through Haneda Airport. The flight carried 119 Japanese nationals who wished to return, 77 Chinese nationals, and 2 Taiwanese nationals. The Japanese government explained that for the first time, spouses of Japanese nationals holding Chinese nationality were allowed to board this chartered flight.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, said, "We hope that after returning, people will refrain from going out for two weeks and remain vigilant, and we will thoroughly manage their health by continuously monitoring their condition." He added, "With the dispatch of four chartered flights, I believe that most Japanese nationals wishing to return from Hubei Province have been repatriated."
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