Two cruise ship passengers with coronavirus who were on the quarantined Diamond Princess have died, Japan’s health ministry said.
Both were elderly and had existing chronic diseases.
Health Ministry official Masami Sakoi said both were thought to have been infected before boarding the ship, as Japan faces increasing criticism over its handling of the quarantine measures.
Its decision to keep thousands of passengers and crew confined on the ship is being questioned.
More than 600 people onboard have been infected.
Questions are also being asked about whether it is even feasible to stem a highly contagious outbreak on a vessel carrying thousands of people with confined spaces and relatively limited ventilation.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the quarantine ‘may not have been sufficient to prevent transmission.’
Conditions were described as ‘completely chaotic’ by a Japanese infectious diseases expert who assisted with the quarantine.
"The cruise ship was completely inadequate in terms of infection control," said Kentaro Iwata.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga admitted it was an unprecedented situation that has few pre-defined protocols in how best to handle the situation.
Health minister Katsunobu Kato said the government will look closely at how and why the quarantine was ineffective and what lessons can be learned.
Five Japanese health workers also contracted COVID-19 during their work aboard the ship.
