Japan confirms 39 new virus cases, 174 total on cruise ship

Japan’s health ministry said Wednesday that 39 new cases of a virus have been confirmed on cruise ship that is quarantined at a Japanese port. update brings total found on Diamond Princess to 174 cases. ship arrived at Yokohama Port near Tokyo on Feb. 3 and Japanese health officials began medical checks on all of ship's 3,700 passengers and crew after one previous passenger tested positive for new virus, COVID-19.

U.S.-operated Diamond Princess h completed a 14-day tour during which it stopped at Hong Kong and several or Asian ports before returning to Japan.

Japanese government and tour company officials have said y were tified by Hong Kong that an 80-year-old male passenger who got off boat re later tested positive for virus.

COVID-19 is a coronavirus that emerged in China in December.