An additional 44 people on the Diamond Princess, a cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama, have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total of onboard infections to 218 on Thursday. Around 3,600 passengers and crew members will be confined to the ship, until at least February 19 as tests continue to be carried out.

Major ports in Japan are strengthening the inspection of berthed ships to prevent further spread of the virus.