Instant international
Written by: Cheng Yihua Xu Xuan
2020-02-22 20:00
Last updated: 2020-02-23 08:29Japan ’s quarantine arrangements for the cruise ship “Diamond Princess” have been controversial by the international community. Local government officials revealed on February 22 that 23 of the cruise ship personnel who had already disembarked were in the 14-day quarantine period. Not tested for new coronavirus. The Japanese government acknowledged the mistake and apologized for it.
Katsumi Kato, Minister of Health, Labour and Labor apologizes for the government's mistakes. The picture shows him attending a press conference in September 2019 (Getty)
Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare Kato said at a press conference that the 23 people had not been tested for the new coronavirus during the medical observation period from February 5. They disembarked on February 19 and February 20, respectively. The government acknowledged the mistake, and Kato said that he would "deeply reflect on our mistakes and will take thorough measures to avoid such mistakes."
The 23 were 19 Japanese and 4 foreigners, 3 of whom have now been retested for the virus, with negative results. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare contacted the remaining 20 people, of whom 17 made an appointment for testing.
Australia arranges special plane to withdraw nationals on cruise "Diamond Princess" on February 19 (Associated Press)
25 returnees confirmed by charter flight
Katsuo Kasumi also told a press conference that 25 of the foreigners who had returned to the country by charter flights on the cruise ship "Diamond Princess" were confirmed to be infected with the new coronavirus, including 18 in the United States, 6 in Australia and 1 in Israel. According to media reports, some cases in Australia and Israel tested negative in Japan but were diagnosed with infection after returning home.
▼ To see the situation in other affected countries, please click to enlarge:
+6
+5
+4
Controversial Japanese government
In the storm of "Diamond Princess", Japan's handling methods have been controversial. For example, Japanese experts who have boarded cruise ships said that the epidemic prevention work on board was chaotic, there was no separation between infected areas and safe areas, or the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had at least 90 staff members were sent to work on the ship, but these staff members returned to work without being tested for viruses after disembarking.
A Japanese official once said at a residents briefing that as long as he did not cough loudly like "Godzilla", it would not be contagious, and his remarks caused controversy and the government finally apologized.
Diamond Princess currently has 634 confirmed cases. The ship originally had 3,711 passengers and crew. Based on 634 cases, it means that at least 17% of the people on board were infected with the new coronavirus. The Japanese government has not released all the test results.
[Diamond Princess] U.S. evacuates with 14 confirmed patients back home to spread Trump's anger
[Diamond Princess, Wuhan Pneumonia] British media: Some British citizens of the cruise have arrived in Hong Kong last week
[Japan epidemic, Diamond Princess] 90 people from Ministry of Health, Welfare and Inspection
[Diamond Princess] Japanese expert on board said that the situation of the cruise ship is chaotic without isolation and security zone
Wuhan Pneumonia Japan Diamond Princess Japan
