Japanese woman in her 70s becomes the fifth Diamond Princess passenger to die after attempt to contain a coronavirus outbreak on board failed
- Woman, in her 70s, died on Friday after being evacuated from the cruise ship
- If death is confirmed to be from coronavirus, she will be fifth passenger to die
- Almost 700 fell sick on the ship after attempt to quarantine them in cabins failed
- Japanese state of Hokkaido declared a public health emergency on Friday
A woman who was quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan has died, the country’s health ministry has said.
The woman, a Japanese citizen in her 70s, was reported dead on Friday – a week after passengers were evacuated when an attempt to contain a coronavirus outbreak on board the vessel failed.
If it is confirmed that the woman died from coronavirus, it will mark the fifth death from the disease among the ship’s passengers.
A Japanese woman in her 70s who was quarantined on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship amid a coronavirus outbreak has died, Japan’s health ministry has said
If the death is confirmed to be from coronavirus, then she will be the fifth passenger to die from the disease after an attempt to stop the spread by confining people to their cabins failed
Almost 700 fell sick on board the ship after it was blocked from docking at the port of Yokohama last month when one passenger tested positive for the disease.
The death was reported by Japanese media as the coronavirus-hit Hokkaido region declared a state of emergency.
Governor Naomichi Suzuki asked residents to stay at home over the weekend as the northern area struggles to contain the fast-spreading outbreak.
‘I believe it is necessary to take unprecedented, drastic steps,’ Suzuki told a televised meeting of local government executives.
Hokkaido region, known for ski resorts and vast forests, has seen at least 63 coronavirus cases, including two deaths, and accounts for more than a quarter of all cases in Japan, apart from those on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The central government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has already dispatched a team of experts and officials to the region to contain the virus.
Japan is currently in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak after hundreds of people fell sick in the province of Hokkaido, which declared a state of emergency on Friday (pictured)
Passersby wearing masks are seen in front of the former Hokkaido Government Office building in Sapporo amid a coronavirus outbreak
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki (right) declares a state of emergency during a meeting on the new COVID-19 coronavirus in Hokkaido prefecture
‘I ask for help of all Hokkaido residents to protect lives and health of you and your loved ones and to ensure swift ending of the situation,’ the governor said.
‘To prevent further spread of the virus, please refrain from going out during the weekend,’ he said.
The region’s ski resorts attract many wealthy Asian tourists, including from China.
Suzuki has already asked for local schools to be closed, but he did not announce any further concrete measures to fight the outbreak.
The virus has so far infected at least 210 people across the country, including Hokkaido, and been linked to five deaths.
Abe, who on Thursday also requested nationwide closure of schools, has said efforts during the coming weeks will determine whether the outbreak can be contained, a major concern in the run-up to Tokyo Olympics in July.