"Want to Eat Sushi" First Words of Passenger Disembarking from Japanese Cruise Ship Amid 'COVID-19'

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "I want to eat sushi." A passenger who disembarked on the 19th from the cruise ship 'Diamond Princess' docked at Yokohama Port, Japan, which was embroiled in controversy due to a COVID-19 cluster infection, sighed with relief saying, "When I get home, I want to eat sushi, take a bath, and slowly rest in bed."

The passenger, who was interviewed by Japan's Ameba Times, tested negative for COVID-19 after a health check on the 14th. He explained life on board, saying, "The cabin was dry, so I boiled water in a pot to maintain humidity," and added, "I had to wait in the room for two weeks, but since it was the government's decision, I thought there was no choice and endured it."

After the disembarkation was decided, he said, "I couldn't stop crying with joy," and pointed out that the hardest part was not being able to leave the room even for an hour a day.

Another passenger, who felt anxious as the number of infected people increased day by day, said, "In the last few days before disembarkation, many infections were confirmed, so I was worried about what would happen," and added, "I am grateful to the cruise ship staff who worked hard."

About 443 passengers disembarked that day, and the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare plans to complete the disembarkation of passengers who tested negative by the 21st. However, passengers who stayed in the same cabin as infected individuals must continue to wait on board even after the 21st.

Since the Diamond Princess docked at Yokohama Port on the 3rd, a total of 621 COVID-19 infections have been confirmed on the cruise ship. On this day, 79 additional passengers tested positive for COVID-19.

In addition to the cruise ship, additional COVID-19 infections were confirmed across Japan. NHK reported that three more infected people were confirmed in Tokyo. As a result, the total number of COVID-19 infections in Tokyo has increased to 25.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, among the three newly confirmed infected people, two are a couple in their 70s. They had no contact with travelers from China or previously infected individuals. The other infected person is the wife of an 80-year-old man whose infection was confirmed the previous day.