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Envoy says Japan 'happy to support' Indonesia's decision on cruise ship crew
The envoy says that the Japanese government was ready to support the Indonesian government in any decision it made regarding its citizens aboard the Diamond Princess, due to be released from quarantine today.
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The Diamond Princess cruise ship, carrying 3,711 passengers and crew, is anchored at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama, Japan, on Feb. 10, 2020. (AFP/CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)
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apanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii said on Tuesday that his government was ready to support Indonesia in ensuring the wellbeing of dozens of its citizens aboard the Diamond Princess.
The cruise ship has been quarantined in Yokohama since Feb. 4 over fears of the spread of COVID-19, the disease resulting from the novel coronavirus.
The envoy's statement follows the confirmation Indonesian authorities received earlier that day that three of the 78 Indonesian crewmen onboard had tested positive for COVID-19.
The acute respiratory disease has killed over 2,000 people around the world, with China recording the majority of deaths.
Ambassador Ishii said he had been in discussions with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi to guarantee the crewmen’s health and safety.
He also provided a brief insight into the official announcement regarding the Indonesians who had tested positive for the virus.
“The safest thing I can say is that two [have been] confirmed [positive], one [is being tested], and there is some information about more [cases that] we haven't heard about yet. I haven’t received the latest information,” Ishii told journalists in Jakarta on the sidelines of a reception to commemorate the 60th birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
