Nearly 150 coronavirus cases confirmed on cruise ship in Japan

A total of 148 crew members onboard Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica have tested positive for COVID-19, after health authorities finished testing all the 623 crew members. 

The cruise ship has been docked in Nagasaki in southwestern Japan for repairs since February, with only crew member onboard.

Authorities began testing after one crew member tested positive for the virus earlier this week. 

Local officials are working with the government in Tokyo to allow those who test negative to go home, while also attempting to arrange for the ship to leave the region if it is safe to do so, according to AFP. 

So far, one crew member has been hospitalized, while others with relatively mild symptoms have remained on the ship.

Click here for our earlier report: Japan reports 14 more coronavirus cases on Italian cruise ship