Japan Health Minister on virus affecting Olympics

Japanese Health Minister Katsubu Kato on Tuesday called on public to step up prevention and safety efforts after government anunced basic policies to tackle vel coronavirus.

Measures include encouraging companies to allow employees to work from home and expanding hospital treatment capacity, urging people to wash ir hands carefully and avoid going out when feeling unwell.

government also asked those with mild illnesses to go to family doctors inste of hospitals with specialised virus-control facilities which are treating many seriously ill patients.

Asked about new measures and wher Japan's hosting of Tokyo Olympics would be in line with latest government policies discouraging people from going out, Kato said measures apply in immediate term and that it was still too early to discuss Olympics.

Japan has confirmed 850 cases, third highest number behind China and South Korea.

case total includes 691 people infected on Diamond Princess cruise ship, docked in Yokohama near Tokyo.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government has been widely criticized after quarantine of ship was seen to have failed to stop virus from spreing.