Japan has confirmed another 44 diagnoses of coronavirus on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, said health minister Katsunobu Kato, taking the total number of cases to 218.
The Diamond Princess, which has been quarantined in Yokohama since February 3rd, has had more cases of the illness than any country outside China. A Japanese quarantine officer also fell victim to the virus after boarding the ship.
Mr Kato announced a new approach to the quarantined passengers, saying that those who are elderly or have chronic health conditions will be allowed to disembark and go into quarantine ashore, especially if they are staying in internal cabins with no window.