Two Chinese crew members aboard a cruise ship belonging to German tourism giant TUI have shown mild flu symptoms even though their first test results came out negative for the coronavirus, according to CCTV news. 

The two persons were among a total of 58 Chinese staff on the cruiser, who are all now quarantined on board with some 2,800 others after the ship identified its first coronavirus case on Friday.

"Mein Schiff 3" was being used to ferry 2,899 TUI employees and crew home with both cruises and the usual means of transport in much of Europe shut down by the pandemic and there're no passengers on the ship.

On April 28, the vessel docked at the German North Sea port of Cuxhaven with more than a dozen crew members showing flu-like symptoms. 

TUI spokesman Friedericke Groenemeyer said all the members will be tested.

The Chinese Consulate-General in Hamburg also said it's monitoring the situation of Chinese nationals.

(With input from AFP)