80 Pinoys from Diamond Princess cruise ship positive for COVID-19

86 Filipinos abroad test positive for coronavirus: health dept
Mar 02 2020 https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/20/86-filipinos-abroad-test-positive...

A total of 86 Filipinos abroad so far tested positive for the novel coronavirus, the health department said Monday.

Of this figure, 80 were from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined for 2 weeks in Japan. Sixty-four of them were still in hospitals in Tokyo, while 16 were discharged, said Health Assistant Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

The UAE, Hong Kong and Singapore host 2 Filipino coronavirus patients each, she added.

The World Health Organization on Friday raised its global risk assessment of the new coronavirus to its highest level after the epidemic spread to every continent except Antarctica.

The virus has killed more than 2,800 people and infected over 84,000 worldwide -- the vast majority in China -- since it emerged apparently from an animal market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December.

The Philippines has confirmed 3 cases of the disease, including one death, all from Wuhan.

Three Filipinos from the Diamond Princess ship who are quarantined north of the capital had developed symptoms of the disease. Test results on whether or not they have the new coronavirus were due out later Monday or Tuesday, said Vergeire.