• 4 years ago
There are now 130 confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess, quarantined in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo
Sixty more people on a quarantined cruise ship have tested positive for coronavirus, Japan's health minister has said.

There are now 130 confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess, quarantined in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo, with officials previously saying 70 people had the virus among the 3,711 passengers and crew.

More than 3,600 people are still in a 14-day quarantine on board the ship.

The new cases come as the UK government declared coronavirus as a serious and imminent threat to public health.

Health Minister Matt Hancock revealed the new measures this morning in an announcement that gives the government additional powers to fight the spread of the virus.
A statement from the health ministry said: "In accordance with Regulation 3, the Secretary of State declares that the incidence or transmission of novel Coronavirus constitutes a serious and imminent threat to public health.

"The measures outlined in these regulations are considered as an effective means of delaying or preventing further transmission of the virus."

Measures issued by the ministry this morning are in response to a quarantined patient at Arrowe Park Hospital attempting to abscond, the Mirror understands.

The ministry designated Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes as an "isolation" facility.

Regulation 3 refers to the control of patient information relating to communicable diseases - diseases that can spread from one person to another.
It also declared Wuhan and Hubei province in China as an "infected area".

Last week, newlywed Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, was one of 61 people to test positive for the SARS-like virus on the Diamond Princess, where 3,700 passengers and crew are trapped on board.

Mr Steele, 58, was taken to hospital for treatment and his wife Wendy Steele, 51, was forced to stay behind on the vessel while it is in a 14-day quarantine.

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