Coronavirus: 10 more Hongkongers on Diamond Princess cruise confirmed to be infected, bringing total to 21
● Government arranges chartered flights to bring 330 residents back to city
● But some question why they need to spend extra 14 days in quarantine centres when they have spent 11 days stuck on ship
Ten more Hongkongers on board the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise in Japan have been confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus, bringing the total to 21.
The Security Bureau updated the figure on Sunday night, hours after it announced plans to arrange chartered flights to bring home the more than 300 Hongkongers who have been stranded on the vessel for 11 days.
But some passengers have balked at the suggestion they spend another 14 days in quarantine when they return to the city, even as they welcomed the government’s move.
The evacuation plan came as Japanese health officials on Sunday confirmed 70 more cases of Covid-19, taking the total number of infections aboard the vessel to 355.
Among the 330 passengers from Hong Kong, Young Wo-sang, who was stranded with his wife, welcomed the news, but said he did not understand the need for another two weeks in quarantine.
“We have been placed in quarantine in Japan from February 5, and it has been nearly 14 days already. Why is there a need to quarantine us for another 14 days?”
The Hong Kong Immigration Department said the move was to protect against the health risks associated with repatriating the residents, 260 of whom are SAR passport holders, with the remaining 70 travelling on other passports.
