Passengers Disembarking Cruise Ship
Another 79 people on a quarantined cruise ship docked in Yokohama, near Tokyo, have tested positive for the coronavirus. That brings the total number of confirmed cases to 621.
The update comes just hours after passengers began disembarking the ship following a two-week quarantine period.
About 500 people are expected to be taken off the vessel today.
Officials say all passengers who test negative for the virus and meet a few other conditions should disembark by Friday.
NHK spoke with a few passengers who say they're happy the ordeal is over.
A 71-year-old male passenger said, "It feels like I've been away from Japan for a long time. I just want to go home and eat Japanese food."
A 82-year-old man said, " I was scared every time I heard them announcing more infections. Talking to friends on the phone kept my spirits up."
The Health Minister says the quarantine was a necessary response to the cruise ship's landing request.
But some foreign experts have criticized the decision to keep everyone on board. One Japanese expert who assessed the ship told NHK that measures to prevent infections fell short. He said crew members weren't doing enough to protect themselves.
More and more governments say they will evacuate their citizens after they leave the ship. The US was the first to do so on Monday, followed by South Korea.
But Health Ministry officials say residents of Japan who leave the ship are free to return home. They will be contacted by phone for several days to check on their health.
