Coronavirus: Cruise ship passengers disembark, death toll rises
Transcript
Today (Wednesday) passengers on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan who have tested negative for the coronavirus are finally disembarking.
The passengers have been quarantined on the ship for weeks.
However, infectious disease experts are already raising concerns that those on board to be unknowingly carrying the virus back to their communities.
624 of the ship’s passengers have tested positive for the virus.
As of Wednesday morning, the coronavirus has killed more than 2,000 people.
The majority of deaths are in mainland China.
The virus has infected more than 75,000 people worldwide.
Health officials say it may be a while before they come up with a medical solution.
The World Health Organization says it could take at least a year to find a vaccine.
And some medical workers helping to fight the disease are being infected as well.
Yesterday (Tuesday) 51-year-old neurosurgeon and director of the Wuchang hospital in Wuhan died from the coronavirus.
The confirmed death of the hospital director only reinforces existing concerns as to the ability of medical workers to protect themselves from the spread of this deadly virus.
Posted – 2.19.20