Fourteen Chinese nationals aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for the novel coronavirus by Thursday, according to the Chinese embassy in Japan.

They include two from the Chinese mainland, 11 from Hong Kong and one from Taiwan region.

A total of 311 Chinese nationals – including 22 from the Chinese mainland, 260 from Hong Kong, five from Macao and 24 from Taiwan – are aboard the cruise ship.

Forty-four more cases of the novel coronavirus were confirmed on the ship on Thursday, bringing the total number to 218, according to Japan's health ministry. 

The Japanese government said earlier that elderly passengers with chronic illnesses and who have been tested negative for the new virus would be allowed to disembark starting Friday. They will complete their quarantine period, which ends on February 19, in government facilities on land.