CIS

Home page

CIS

First Russian passenger of cruise ship in Japan diagnosed with coronavirus

17 February 2020 17:36 (UTC +04:00)

A Russian woman, who is onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in the Japanese port city of Yokohama, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the Russian Embassy in Japan said on Monday, APA reports citing TASS.

The Russian national underwent medical examination for the new coronavirus (COVID-19) along with other passengers of the vessel. "The Russian will be taken to hospital soon where she will undergo treatment," the diplomatic mission said.

This is the first confirmed coronavirus case among Russians. Earlier on Monday, Japanese doctors reported 99 new coronavirus cases onboard the cruise ship, bringing the total number of those infected to 454.

Some 3,700 people from 50 countries, including Russia, were onboard the cruise ship when it left Yokohama on January 20 and returned on February 3. Among them was a coronavirus-infected Chinese citizen who left the ship on January 25 in Hong Kong. In accordance with the decision made by the Japanese authorities, the ship was anchored near Yokohama and quarantined for two weeks.

Earlier on Monday, some 380 US nationals left the Diamond Princess and were evacuated to a US Air Force base in California.