The number of people carrying the novel coronavirus on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan has increased by sixty. A total of 130 people on the ship are infected with the virus. The Japanese television channel TBS TV reports this on Monday based on information from the Ministry of Health.
The Diamond Princess has about 3700 people on board, including five from the Netherlands. The passengers have been stuck on board the ship since February 3, after a passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus. The quarantine will continue for another nine days. The travellers will be refunded by the cruise company.
People on board of the ship have limited room to move, to prevent further infections. More than half of the passengers are seventy years of age or older and suffer from health problems independent of the coronavirus.
Shipping company Princess Cruises has told Japanese broadcaster NHK that it is working with the Ministry of Health to provide passengers with sufficient medication. People who need it can get psychological help by telephone.
Source: ANP
