Coronavirus: Four Indians on board cruise ship test positive

The viral outbreak that began in China has so far infected more than 77,000 people globally

Four Indian crew members, who underwent tests for the coronavirus along with others still on board the cruise ship moored off the Japan coast, have tested positive for COVID-19, taking the total number of Indians infected with the virus on the vessel to 12, the Indian embassy said on Sunday.Passengers showing no signs of the deadly disease started deboarding the ship, Diamond Princess, after the quarantine period ended last week.

A total of 397 new confirmed cases were reported on Friday, while 109 deaths were reported from 31 provincial-level regions, Chinese health officials said.The viral outbreak has so far infected more than 77,000 people globally.

 Meanwhile, China reported a sharp fall in new deaths and cases on Saturday. However, world health officials warned it was premature to make predictions about the outbreak as new infections continued to rise in other countries.

The virus, now named COVID-19, has spread to over 20 countries, including India.

India remained protected from novel Coronavirus due to its robust health surveillance system, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said here on Saturday.

 He also hailed qualified health professionals for "resisting" the Ebola, Nipah virus and Swineflu in the past.

Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Academic and Administrative Building of the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) here, the Health Minister said India is now in a position to achieve the World Health Organisation's (WHO) 'Health for All' goal and to form a healthcare model that can be emulated by other countries.

Around 100 more passengers were allowed to disembark from the coronavirus-stricken Diamond Princess cruise ship on Saturday as Japan's health minister apologised after 23 others were allowed to leave without being properly tested.The 100 passengers who left on Saturday had been in close contact with infected people on board, local media said.

 They included the last group of Japanese passengers to leave the ship while some foreign passengers were still waiting on board for chartered aircraft to be sent by their governments. Around 970 passengers disembarked earlier this week.