Asia

New coronavirus found in Japan evacuees who initially tested negative

TOKYO: 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 on Tuesday (Feb 11).

One of the two, a man in his 50s who returned from the Chinese city of Wuhan on the first Japanese evacuation flight on Jan 29, previously twice tested negative for the virus.

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However, a third test 12 days later found the man – who has been isolated in his hotel room since his return – was infected.

Japan Health Ministry announces at 5 pm local time 2 more cases of #coronavirus of Japanese who returned from #Wuhan on government chartered flights number 1 and 2. 1 was quarantined at a hotel in Chiba before hospitalization. Another stayed home in contact with 2 family members. https://t.co/8CN0nTt3bE

— michiyo ishida (@MichiyoCNA) February 11, 2020

According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus incubation period "could be up to 14 days".

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

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The new cases bring the number of infections inside Japan to 28, excluding dozens diagnosed aboard a cruise ship moored off the coast.

READ: 5 Singaporeans on quarantined cruise ship off Japan

So far, 135 people on board the Diamond Princess have tested positive for the virus since it arrived off Japan last Monday. Authorities on Tuesday were removing from the ship the most recently diagnosed 65 crew and passengers.

A timeline of coronavirus cases on the Diamond Princess liner, updated as of 2pm on Feb 10. (Image: Rafa Estrada)

READ: Oscars, movies help pass the time on cruise ship quarantined in Japan

READ: Captain, bring me whisky: Spirited plea from virus cruise 'prisoner'

The ship was carrying 3,711 people when it arrived off Japan on the evening of Feb 3, and was officially placed into quarantine two days later. Only those diagnosed with the virus or suffering other serious health conditions have been allowed off the boat, which is expected to remain in quarantine until at least Feb 19.

People on board the ship on Tuesday tweeted that medicines were being delivered to passengers, and that the ship's captain had announced the vessel would head out to sea overnight to produce Read More – Source

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