Japan mulls testing 3,600 aboard cruise for virus

Japan's health minister told reporters Monday that the government is considering conducting virus tests on all passengers and crew members, totaling more than 3,600, before allowing them to get off a cruise ship.

Katsunobu Kato said in Yokohama that health officials have so far found 70 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus, including six announced Sunday night, from the Diamond Princess being quarantined in the port of Yokohama, near Tokyo.

Given the limited testing capacity, Kato said officials are seeking help by private labs and medical universities with adequate facilities while they are trying to figure out if such massive tests are feasible.

If blanket tests are conducted at the end of the 14-day quarantine period, everyone has to stay on board until results are available. Kato said five of the six new confirmed cases are crew members assigned to restaurants, bars or housekeeping.

Japanese health authorities are scrambling to deliver medicine requested by over 600 passengers who are running out of their prescriptions, but the progress is slow because of explanation and translation work for foreign passengers, Kato said.