1 Filipino tests positive for coronavirus, 537 other Filipinos quarantined on Japan cruise ship

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 5) — A Filipino seafarer has tested positive for the novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV, while 537 other Filipinos have been quarantined onboard a cruise ship in Japan.

The Filipino was a crew member of the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Other nationalities who were confirmed to have the coronavirus were an American guest, two Australians, three Japanese, and three Chinese nationals from Hong Kong.

The cruise operator said the Filipino crew and nine others will be taken ashore by a Japanese Coast Guard watercraft and transported to local hospitals.

"The Embassy is in constant communication with the remaining Filipinos onboard and is closely coordinating with Japanese authorities to provide them all possible assistance," the Department of Foreign Affairs said.

Japanese authorities are still waiting for the results of more than 100 test samples from other passengers.

The cruise ship has been docked in Japan's Yokohama Bay and placed under quarantine for 14 days to isolate and monitor 2,666 guests and 1,045 crew members on board the ship, CNN reported. Medical officials are going room-by-room to check each their health and temperature. It is unclear how many passengers may have disembarked from the cruise ship early.

Japanese authorities locked down the vessel on Tuesday after a former passenger, an 80-year-old man from Hong Kong who disembarked 12 days ago, was confirmed to have the coronavirus.

The novel coronavirus has infected more than 20,000 people in the two months since it has been identified. Of the 427 deaths — 425 were in mainland China, a Chinese man in the Philippines, and a 39-year-old man in Hong Kong.

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