Number of coronavirus suspects on Diamond Princess cruise ship soars

Japan has found 65 more suspected cases of the new coronavirus in passengers on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 135 in the ship. The ship has been docked at the Yokohama port since February 5. Patients showing symptoms have been transferred to local hospitals.
According to the Japanese press, the local government has allowed some of the tourists to return home. The government said there were 3,700 people on board and they were being quarantined for 14 days.
There is a risk on the cruise ship to elderly and patients having chronic disease. As many as 80 per cent of the passengers -- 2,600 people -- are aged above 60, with 251 people aged more than 80 and 11 people aged more than 90.
Japanese authorities have confirmed that the release date for the ship is February 19. Some passengers told the local press that they had asked the government to provide more medics.
Meanwhile the World Dream cruise ship, which was quarantined at Hong Kong bay, allowed 1,800 passengers who had tested negative for the new coronavirus to leave the ship. Three passengers on the cruise ship were found to be infected from January 19-24.