Eight Indians Tested Positive For Coronavirus On Cruise Ship Off Japan: MEA

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar on Thursday said eight Indians have been tested positive for coronavirus on board a ship in Japan. He added the government is in touch with the Japanese authorities and they are being treated in a local hospital. The MEA also clarified in its briefing that there was no ban on travel to or from China in view of coronavirus outbreak.

MEA:There are 132 crew members&6 passengers of Indian national who were onboard cruise ship,Diamond Princess this was quarantined off the coast of Japan. As per latest info,there are 8 Indian nationals who are infected with #CoronaVirus. They are being treated at local hospital. pic.twitter.com/yglxT2enuD

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2020

Raveesh Kumar, who was addressing the weekly media briefing, said India has decided to send an aircraft consignment of medical supplies on a relief flight to coronavirus-hit Wuhan.

The aircraft, he added, on its return journey will bring Indian nationals who could not board first two flights and asked for government's assistance to come back. He added that depending upon the capacity limitations and logistics, the aircraft may also accommodate nationals of other countries as well.

Also Read: India To Send Its Largest Military Aircraft C-17 To Evacuate More Citizens From Wuhan

MEA:On its return journey,the aircraft will bring in Indian nationals who couldn't board first two flights. Those interested to come back have been asked to contact our Embassy.Subject to capacity limitations&other logistics we'll accommodate nationals of other countries as well. https://t.co/kNwZQmQs21

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2020

Moreover, India's national carrier Air India has already evacuated around 640 Indians from Wuhan in two separate flights. According to estimates, over 100 Indians are still living in Wuhan, some of whom decided not to return to India. A sizeable number of countries have evacuated their citizens from China and restricted movement of people and goods to and from China.

Also Read: 2 Former Passengers Of Coronavirus-Hit Diamond Princess Cruise Ship Die In Japan: Media

Last week, India announced that it will send medicines as well as other medical supplies for coronavirus-hit people in China. In a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with people of China over the outbreak of the virus and offered India's assistance to deal with it.

(With PTI inputs)