Aussies among 20 confirmed cases of coronavirus on Diamond Princess cruise ship

Another 10 cases of coronavirus have been found on the virus-striken Diamond Princess cruise ship, bringing the total to 20 so far.

Another 10 cases of coronavirus has been confirmed on the stranded Diamond Princess, bringing the total number of infected people so far to 20.

Local news citing Japan’s ministry of health are reporting 10 newly confirmed cases of the virus among people on the cruise ship, which is currently docked outside the Japanese port of Yokohama near Tokyo.

Those people will be removed from the ship and taken to nearby hospitals.

The new cases are in addition to 10 cases of coronavirus confirmed yesterday, which includes two Australian passengers.

Japanese authorities said 273 passengers and crew members have been tested for the virus, with 120 people suffering symptoms such as fever and cough.

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The new cases brings the total number of confirmed cases on the Diamond Princess to 20.

The rest of Diamond Princess’ 2666 passengers and 1045 crew are confined on the ship, where they will remain in quarantine for two weeks.

Japanese officials have confirmed 20 cases of coronavirus on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Picture: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

Passengers in lockdown wave from the Diamond Princess. Picture: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP

Earlier, passengers described “floating prison”-like conditions as they were told they couldn’t even leave their cabins.

Australian woman Olivia Capodicasa is among 233 Australians stuck on-board.

“It has been a hell of a 24 hours stuck in here,” she told Sunrise today.

“I think it is really starting to hit me now that this is the reality and I’m not going home anytime soon.”

Cairns couple Paul and Jacqui Fidrmuc told Today there were concerns there were more infected people on the ship.

Olivia Capodicasa and her grandmother are stuck on the Diamond Princess. Picture: 7News

A pictured tweeted from inside the ship shows medical staff on board. Picture: Twitter handle @DAXA_TW / AFP

“That’s the biggest worry, that there may be other people who have the virus but it hasn’t yet come out,” Ms Fidrmuc said.

Japan’s Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said of the 273 people tested so far, only 31 results had been returned, with 10 confirmed cases – suggesting there may be more confirmed cases to come.

It is believed the virus was brought on board the Diamond Princess by a previous passenger who left the ship at Hong Kong.

she finally got some bar of soap👍️ thank you!
she can not go to laundry, she has to wash her clothes by bar of soap for next 14 days.#diamondprincess#coronavirus pic.twitter.com/vy3xaMqbh2

— cocorobyn (@coco12013yn) February 5, 2020

Day 1: Dinner, a three-course meal pic.twitter.com/zkpze0Xlss

— quarantinedondiamondprincess (@quarantinedond1) February 5, 2020

Day 1: Food at 3:20. My wife called passenger service because we hadn’t received anything and they responded quickly. #DiamondPrincess #Quarantine pic.twitter.com/FC109o84yh

— quarantinedondiamondprincess (@quarantinedond1) February 5, 2020

‘A FLOATING PRISON’

Brisbane couple Karen and John Welch, who had been enjoying a cruise holiday on the Diamond Princess, said they had been told to remain in their rooms as they faced another 13 days in quarantine.

“We have not heard a thing,” Mr Welch told Today. “I wish they would get on to the job. They need to get us off this ship.

“I have spoken to quite a few Australians on the phone here. We keep in contact. No-one’s heard anything.”

Carole and John Welch, from Brisbane, are on the Diamond Princess. Picture: Today

The Diamond Princess is in lockdown off the Japanese port of Yokohama. Picture: AP/Eugene Hoshiko

Passengers on board have shared pictures of people inside receiving treatment from personnel in Hazmat suits. Announcements say prescription medicine requests will be fulfilled free of charge while passengers and crew are expected to wait out the next 14 days.

With passengers unable to leave their cabins, some have resorted to posting notes on doors requesting supplies.

“Can we please have some English breakfast tea bags,” one note read.

“I need soap, please,” said another.

Passenger David Abel, who is travelling with his wife Sally, said crew in face masks have gone from cabin to cabin to deliver rationed food to passengers.

“We are definitely no longer on a luxury cruise, where we had the superb benefit of eating from a dining room and a choice from the menu – those days are over,” he said.

“It is going to be tough on rationed food, and with no alcohol.

おやつの時間ですが昼食が届きました 2月5日 15:10 #ダイヤモンドプリンセス #DiamondPrincess pic.twitter.com/z20prRHcWM

— だぁ(On board the Diamond Princess / 乗船中) (@daxa_tw) February 5, 2020

Personnel clad in protective gear, tasked to provide care for suspected patients on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, are seen at the Japan Coast Guard base in Yokohama. Picture: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP.

A small boat is pictured next to the Diamond Princess as it sits anchored in quarantine off the port of Yokohama. Picture: STR/JIJI PRESS/AFP

検疫始まりましたー それぞれの部屋で体温はかるっぽい。そしてDMとか直接とかちょこちょこ怒られているw アップするなと #ダイヤモンドプリンセス #コロナウイルス pic.twitter.com/6NvOPgMaaR

— だぁ(ダイヤモンドプリンセス乗船中) (@daxa_tw) February 3, 2020

“It has changed beyond recognition but this is not the fault of Princess cruise line, they are complying with the Japanese health authority.”

Mr Abel said he was trying to look on the bright side.

“It’s going to give me some free time. I think it’s going to be a really good trial, a challenge for everyone on board,” he said.

“How do we cope with it? What are we going to do? How is our mental outlook going to be?

“It’s just an extended two-week cruise, but it’s not going to be a luxury cruise, it’s going to be like a floating prison.”

Mr Abel said passengers “can’t even walk down the corridor”.

“For many passengers it’s going to be absolute boredom,” he said.

Passengers have been confined to their rooms. Picture: @DAXA_TW / AFP

British citizen, David Abel, shared footage from inside the Atrium. Picture: Supplied/ David Abel

“We are quite fortunate that we’ve got a cabin with a balcony. The people I feel really sorry for are those with inside cabins who’ve got no natural light, no fresh air.”

The checks of people on the Diamond Princess came after an 80-year-old man who boarded in Yokohama on January 20 tested positive for coronavirus.

The man disembarked the ship in Hong Kong on January 25.

Meanwhile a second ship, the World Dream, is docked at Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with 1800 people on board as it was denied entry to Taiwan due to concerns of the virus spreading. Reuters reports it is not known how long passengers will be confined to the World Dream.