The USA plans to evacuate all Americans from Diamond Princess, the site of the biggest coronavirus outbreak outside China. The cruise ship has been held in quarantine in Port Yokohama Japan since February 3. Out of 3700 people onboard, 355 tested positive for the coronavirus (as of Feb 16th).
The US embassy in Tokyo said that to all US citizens would be offered seats on a government-chartered flight on Sunday, February 16.
More than 1500 people worldwide have died from the deadly virus, which originated in Wuhan China. China's national health commission today reported 143 new deaths, which brings the toll to 1523.
The outbreak on Diamond Princess started with an 80-year-old passenger disembarked in Hong Kong and later diagnosed with Coronavirus. Crew and passengers are being held in quarantine in Yokohama. Hundreds of Americans are among the quarantined, and at least 24 are diagnosed with Coronavirus.
However, in a letter, the US embassy in Tokyo announced healthy American citizens on the ship would be screened for symptoms prior to boarding the home flight. The aircraft will fly to Travis Air Force Base CA where some passengers will stay in quarantine for further 14 days.
For other Diamond Princess accidents and incidents see at the ship's CruiseMinus page.
For Coronavirus updates on cruise ship quarantines (infected passengers and crew) and top-pandemic countries (COVID-19 cases and deaths, daily updated statistics) see at CruiseMapper's Norovirus page.