By Canadian Press

Japan confirms 99 more cases of new virus on cruise ship

Feb 17, 2020 | 2:55 AM

TOKYO — Japanese officials have confirmed 99 more people infected by the new virus aboard the quarantined cruise ship Diamond Princess, bringing the total to 454, the Health Ministry said Monday .

The ministry has been carrying out tests on passengers and crew on the ship, docked in Yokohama, a port city near Tokyo.

The 14-day quarantine for those on the ship was due to end Wednesday.

Outside China, the ship has had the largest number of cases of the COVID-19 illness caused by the virus that emerged in China late last year.

The ministry said it now has tested 1,723 people on the Diamond Princess. The ship had about 3,700 passengers and crew.

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

8h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

9h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

17h ago

Two chartered planes flew 340 Americans who were aboard the vessel out of Japan late Sunday. About 380 Americans had been on the ship. The State Department announced later that 14 of the evacuees were confirmed to have the virus in tests given before they boarded the planes.

They were taken to the U.S. because they did not have symptoms and were being isolated from other passengers on the planes, it said.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether the 14 were included in the 99 new cases announced by Japan on Monday.

Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Italy were planning similar flights for their citizens.

___

Yuri Kageyama is on Twitter at https://twitter.com/yurikageyama

Yuri Kageyama, The Associated Press