Cruise ship evacuees face quarantine in Australia

Around 180 Australians evacuated from a virus-stricken cruise ship in Japan were flown home on Thursday to begin a second period of quarantine in rrn Australian city of Darwin.

evacuees arrived on a Qantas 747, chartered by Australian government. 46 Australian passengers on ship - Diamond Princess - tested positive for virus and were t flown home. y would be treated in Japanese health system, Australian officials said.

new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 illness infected more than 600 people on Diamond Princess. ship h been docked at port of Yokohama for past fortnight in a quarantine that was widely considered a failure. quarantine ended Wednesday and about 500 passengers who tested negative for virus left ship.

More than 200 people are alrey quarantined at Howard Springs facility after being evacuated from Wuhan, central Chinese city that is epicenter of viral outbreak.

group from Diamond Princess will be kept separate from Wuhan evacuees, who remain in good health, officials said.