Nearly 1,000 Cruise Passengers Disembark


Nearly 1,000 cruise passengers disembark

Passengers have been disembarking from the coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess. Nine-hundred and seventy people had left the vessel at its port in Yokohama near Tokyo in the 3 days through Friday. About 300 passengers and 1,000 crew members remain on board.

A 14-day quarantine period imposed by health authorities ended on Wednesday. People with no symptoms and who test negative for the virus have been permitted to leave.

Officials are asking those who return home to avoid going out and to monitor their health for 2 weeks.

A total of 634 people have been found to have contracted the virus on board. Two elderly passengers died on Thursday.

Passengers still on the ship include about 100 who have tested negative but shared a cabin with an infected person. They will be moved to a government-provided facility for an additional 14 days.

Health officials and the ship's operator plan to discuss conditions under which crew members may leave the vessel.