First COVID-19 Case Confirmed in Okinawa, Japan, a Port of Call for Cruise Ships

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eunbyeol] NHK reported on the 14th that a COVID-19 infection was confirmed in Okinawa, Japan, a port of call for the cruise ship Diamond Princess, where a large number of COVID-19 patients were identified.

On the same day, Okinawa Prefecture announced that a woman in her 60s working as a taxi driver was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19.

The Diamond Princess, currently docked at Yokohama Port in Japan, stayed at Naha Port in Okinawa Prefecture for about 9 hours on the 1st of this month.

At that time, it is known that many of the approximately 2,700 passengers disembarked and used buses or taxis to tour the city before returning to the cruise ship.

NHK reported that the taxi driver in Okinawa who was confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 likely had contact with passengers when the Diamond Princess called at the port. This is the first time a COVID-19 infection has been confirmed in this area.