Japan health minister apologizes after passengers mistakenly disembark ship

Japan's health minister apologized after 23 passengers were mistakenly allowed to disembark the Diamond Princess cruise ship without proper testing.

Of those who disembarked without complete testing, 45 individuals have since developed symptoms and have been asked to see a doctor and take tests.

Health Minister Katsunobu Kato stated that efforts are underway to retest individuals who disembarked without complete testing and assured that necessary measures will be implemented to prevent similar incidents.

Around 100 more passengers were allowed to disembark on Saturday, with some foreign passengers still awaiting chartered flights.

The approximately 1,000 crew members remaining on board will begin a 14-day quarantine.

Japan has confirmed 105 domestic cases of the coronavirus outside of the Diamond Princess.

A Japanese hospital has begun using the anti-influenza medication Avigan, also known as Favipiravir, to treat a patient infected with the virus.