After another wave of testing by Japan’s Ministry of Health, the number of positive coronavirus cases on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship nearly doubled.
There are now a total of 135 passengers with the virus.
Forty-five of the new cases are Japanese nationals, while 11 are from the US and four from Australia.
There are now a total of 24 Americans infected.
‘Since it is early in the quarantine period of 14 days, it was not unexpected that additional cases would be reported involving individuals who were exposed prior to the start of the quarantine,’ Princess said in a statement.
Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine off the coast of Yokohama on February 3 after a man on an earlier voyage was diagnosed with coronavirus in Hong Kong.
It was carrying more than 3,700 passengers and crew at the time.
Princess Cruises said it would offer full refunds to all guests as well as cruise credits.
