Coronavirus: two Japanese men who initially tested negative are now infected, taking tally to 163

Singapore also confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the city state’s overall number of infections to 47

Meanwhile, Vietnam confirmed a new case in three-month-old baby, bringing its total to 15. South Korea also reported a new infection, bringing total to 28

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A Japanese ambulance believed to carry a passenger infected with the novel coronavirus leaves the pier where the Diamond Princess cruise ship is docked. Photo: EPA

Published: 11:08am, 11 Feb 2020Updated: 9:13pm, 11 Feb 2020

Two Japanese citizens evacuated from the epicentre of a novel coronavirus outbreak have been diagnosed with the infection after initially testing negative, the health ministry said.

One of the two, a man in his 50s who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan on the first Japanese evacuation flight on January 29, previously twice tested negative for the virus. However, a third test 12 days later found the man – who has been isolated in his hotel room since his return – was infected.

The second evacuee, a Japanese man in his 40s, returned from Wuhan on January 30 and initially tested negative for the virus, but was diagnosed after a second test on Monday.

According to the World Health Organisation, the coronavirus incubation period “could be up to 14 days”.

The new cases bring the number of infections inside Japan to 28, excluding dozens diagnosed aboard a cruise ship moored off the coast. So far, 135 people on board the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus since it arrived off Japan on Monday. Authorities on Tuesday were removing from the ship the most recently diagnosed 65 crew and passengers.

Singapore also confirmed two new cases of the novel coronavirus on Tuesday, taking the city state’s overall number of infections to 47.