2 South Africans on Japanese cruise ship test positive for coronavirus
The Department of Health has confirmed that two South Africans have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus.
The two were part of a group of 12 South Africans working onboard the Princess Diamond Cruise Ship.
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They are undergoing treatment in Japan.
The cruise ship arrived in the Japanese port of Yokohama at the end of January, with all 3700 people on board tested for the virus.
A total of 705 people aboard the ship tested positive.
The health ministry’s Lwazi Manzi says the government is in contact with authorities in Japan.
"At this stage, it is most appropriate that the COVID-19 confirmed South African citizens should be treated in Japan until they are fully recovered from the virus and are no longer contagious before they travel further.
"For the remaining ten, they will be permitted to disembark the ship as per the instructions of their employer after they test negative for coronavirus, be subjected to a further 14 day quarantine in Japan, then further tested thereafter to determine if they may be cleared for travel."