Health Of Cruise Ship's Crew To Be Studied
Japan's health ministry appears set to launch studies into how to prevent crew on board a cruise ship hit by the coronavirus outbreak from catching the virus.
The move comes as 20 crew members of the quarantined Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus.
Ministry officials say the crew comprises of various nationalities and some crew members share cabins.
Officials are interviewing the passengers and crew to identify the cause and route of infection.
They are calling for the need to better address the crew members' needs as they have been inside the vessel for an extended period, unable to disembark.
They say they will consult with the operator to discuss how to manage the crew's health.
Meanwhile, the Defense Ministry, which has already dispatched Self-Defense Force's medical officers to the cruise ship, says it is discussing the possibility of dispatching SDF personnel to assist the crew.
