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Two Diamond Princess passengers have died from coronavirus

FILE PHOTO: PRINCESS CRUISES Diamond Princess.jpeg
The Diamond Princess disembarkation continues though some countries are requiring additional quarantine periods ashore
Two Diamond Princess passengers died after contracting coronavirus, according to Japanese media reports citing the health ministry.

The two, both Japanese, were a man, 87, and a woman, 84. They died Thursday while hospitalized.

Meanwhile, more than 620 people from Diamond Princess reportedly have tested positive for COVID-19 since the ship was quarantined in Yokohama on Feb. 3.

Disembarkation continues

Although cases continued to climb during the quarantine, Japan ended it on Wednesday, when about 600 passengers who had tested negative were cleared to disembark. The process continued today.

Broadcasts from Japan showed Princess Cruises President Jan Swartz, in face mask, at the cruise terminal.

Some countries mandate additional quarantine

Several countries, including the United States, have mandated an additional quarantine for those leaving Diamond Princess. As earlier reported, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that after Americans (passengers and crew) disembark, they will be required to wait 14 days without having symptoms or a positive coronavirus test result before they are permitted to board flights to the US.

And Americans who were earlier evacuated on two planes are waiting out their quarantine in California and Texas facilities on military bases. Among those, 14 tested positive just prior to the flights.

Australia, Hong Kong and Canada were also sending aircraft to evacuate their people.

The ship had arrived in Yokohama carrying 2,666 passengers and 1,045 crew from a range of nationalities. About half the passengers were from Japan.