Japan to let elderly leave virus-hit liner
44 new cases confirmed aboard quarantined Diamond Princess
TOKYO-Japan will allow some elderly passengers on a quarantined cruise liner who test negative for the novel coronavirus to disembark ahead of schedule, the health minister said on Thursday, as a further 44 new cases were confirmed aboard the Diamond Princess.
Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said elderly passengers who have pre-existing conditions or are in windowless rooms would be allowed to leave starting from Friday, rather than the originally targeted date of Feb 19, and complete their quarantine ashore.
With the number of those infected on the cruise ship now up to 218 plus one quarantine officer, concerns have been raised about conditions on the ship, where about 3,500 people remain on board.