TOKYO: Testing aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan has found 66 more confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus, domestic broadcaster TBS TV said via Twitter on Monday (Feb 10).



Other local media also reported approximately 66 more cases had been confirmed, raising the number of infected passengers and crew to around 136.

Health ministry officials declined immediate comment.





The liner was placed on a two-week quarantine on arriving at Yokohama on Feb 3, after a former passenger who disembarked in Hong Kong last month was diagnosed with the virus.



A timeline of coronavirus cases on the Diamond Princess liner, updated as of 2pm on Feb 10. (Image: Rafa Estrada)



There were more than 3,700 passengers and crew on the ship when it arrived off Japan's coast last week - this includes five Singaporeans, who reported to be physically well on Friday.​​​​​​​



Cruise ship Diamond Princess arrives at Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama. (Photo: Reuters)

Dozens have been taken to hospital and around 3,600 people, many of them elderly, were still on board on Sunday.

It was not clear whether Japanese authorities would conduct tests on all of them.

The ship docked in Yokohama on Sunday to resupply for a quarantine that could last until Feb 19.

Local reports said Japan's health authorities brought urgently needed drugs and other medical supplies to about 500 people.

About 100 said they had a fever or felt unwell, according to the reports.

Passengers on the ship have been asked to stay inside their cabins to prevent new infections with some expressing confusion and frustration.

The media keep watch on the Diamond Princess cruise ship with over 3,000 people on board as it sits in quarantine at Yokohama port. (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro NOGI)

The number of deaths from China's new coronavirus surged past 900 in mainland China on Monday after the hardest-hit province of Hubei reported 91 new fatalities.



In its daily update, Hubei's health commission also confirmed another 2,618 new cases in the central province, where the outbreak emerged in December.



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