Coronavirus: another 39 infections found on Diamond Princess cruise ship off Japan, bringing total to 174

The ship, with 174 confirmed patients among its passengers and crew, has become the biggest centre of infection of any place outside China

It has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week, after the virus was detected in a former passenger who got off in Hong Kong

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Family members of passengers on board the cruise ship Diamond Princess wave and talk to them on the phone at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:24am, 12 Feb 2020Updated: 5:38pm, 12 Feb 2020

An additional 39 people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan have tested positive for the new coronavirus, Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases among passengers and crew to 174.

“Out of 53 new test results, 39 people were found positive,” he told reporters, adding that a quarantine official had also been infected with the virus.

“At this point, we have confirmed that four people, among those who are hospitalised, are in a serious condition, either on a ventilator or in an intensive care unit.”

The Diamond Princess has been in quarantine since arriving off the Japanese coast early last week after the virus was detected in a former passenger who got off the ship last month in Hong Kong. It has become the biggest centre of infection of any place outside China.

Medical workers in protective suits walk towards the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama on Tuesday. Photo: Kyodo

When the boat arrived off Japan, authorities initially tested nearly 300 people of the 3,711 on board for the virus, gradually evacuating dozens who were infected to local medical facilities.

In recent days, testing has expanded to those with new symptoms or who had close contact with other infected passengers or crew.