14 Americans Test Positive For Coronavirus

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

The US State Department has confirmed that 14 people tested positive for the viral infection among people who were evacuated from a Japanese quarantined cruise ship.

Officials said the passengers had already disembarked from the Diamond Princess and were preparing to return to the United States on chartered aircraft, when officials were informed about the 14 positive cases.

“During the flights, these individuals will continue to be isolated from the other passengers,” said the department.

All other passengers will undergo 14 days quarantine as soon as they arrive in the US.

About 380 Americans and family members were on the cruise ship when it was quarantined earlier this month for the virus outbreak. At least 355 cases have been detected on the Diamond Princess so far.

In another related development, some 60 Iranian university students who returned from Wuhan on February 5 have all tested negative and are set to leave quarantine later on Monday.

Noorollah Taheri, governor of Shahriar County in Tehran Province, where the students were quarantined, said the students are all in good health.