Cruise Ship Passengers Express Concerns
The number of people killed by the coronavirus outbreak in China has overtaken the death toll from the 2003 SARS epidemic.
More than 900 people have died in mainland China and about 40,000 people have been infected. Across the world, there are 380 cases, including dozens found on a quarantined cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, docked in Yokohama, Japan.
NHK World's Haruka Nouchi filed this report from the port city.
There is an uneasy calm in the port, but life is far from normal for everyone on board.
Few passengers can be seen hanging out on the ship's balconies. Some were exercising but others are just passing the time.
A group of officials brought equipment on to the ship as passengers watched.
It has been nearly a week since the Diamond Princess was locked down with more than 3,600 crew and passengers inside. They will have to wait nine more days before they can leave.
About half of the passengers on the ship are 70 years or older, and many are expressing concerns about staying healthy.
NHK reached one of them by phone over the weekend. The man said he was worried because he was running out of medicine.
He said he is mostly worried that there is not enough medication for his high blood pressure and cholesterol.
He is also worried his sleep will be disturbed if his nose gets clogged without the treatment he needs after nose surgery.
Other passengers have similar concerns. One has been trying to communicate with the media by writing messages and hanging them over the ship. One of them read: "There is not enough medication and not enough information."
The operator of the ship said in a statement that it is working with Japan's health ministry and has received additional medication. This will be distributed based on medical and urgent priority.
It also says it is providing counseling over the phone in both English and Japanese to support the passengers' mental health.
And it is giving them something else to make the situation a little better: a full refund for their entire trip.
