Virus cases on Japan ship rise to 454, four Indians responding to treatment

Four Indians infected with the novel coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which is moored off the Japanese coast, are responding well to treatment, said the Indian Embassy on Monday (February 17). Meanwhile, 99 new cases were reported on the ship, taking the number of those infected to 454.

In a tweet on Sunday, the Embassy in Japan said the number of Indians infected with the deadly disease rose to five with two more of its citizens testing positive over the weekend. However, the mission revised the figure on Monday and said four of its nationals have been infected so far.

All 4 #COVID19 positive Indian nationals as on today receiving medical attention onshore are responding well to the treatment. @IndianEmbTokyo
is in regular touch with Indians on-board #DiamondPrincess. They understand public health safety concerns in such situations. @MEAIndia

— India in Japanインド大使館 (@IndianEmbTokyo) February 17, 2020

“All 4 #COVID19 positive Indian nationals as on today receiving medical attention onshore are responding well to the treatment. @IndianEmbTokyo is in regular touch with Indians on-board #DiamondPrincess. They understand public health safety concerns in such situations,” the Embassy said in tweet on Monday.

A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and six passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month. The ship was quarantined after a passenger who de-boarded last month in Hong Kong was found to be the carrier of the COVID-19 on the ship.

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The Embassy said it was making efforts for early de-boarding of all the Indians from the ship after the end of the quarantine period and was in discussions with the Japanese government and the ship management company for the disembarkation modalities and welfare of Indians.

Meanwhile, the United States on Monday evacuated its 340 nationals from the ship. The US embassy in Japan has confirmed two jets took off from Tokyo with its citizens evacuated from the ship and those on board were expected to undergo a further 14-day quarantine period on US soil. The US state department later said that 14 of the evacuees received had the virus, the report said.

China, where the virus outbreak occurred, is grappling to contain the deadly disease as the death toll climbed to 1,770 after 105 more people died, mostly in the worst-hit Hubei province, officials said on Monday. Of the new deaths, 100 were from Hubei, three in Henan, and two in Guangdong.

The coronavirus outbreak originated in central China’s Hubei province in December last year and has spread to several countries, including India. Many countries have banned arrivals from China while major airlines have suspended flights to the country.

(With inputs from agencies)

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