Japanese woman in her s becomes the fifth Diamond Princess passenger to die from coronavirus
- Woman became fifth Diamond Princess passenger to die of coronavirus Friday
- The woman, who was in her s and from Tokyo, was diagnosed on February 6
- Comes as Hokkaido state declared state of emergency amid dozens of cases
She was taken to hospital but condition deteriorated on th and she died Friday
By
Chris Pleasance for MailOnline
Published: : EST, (February)
: : (EST,) (February)
A Japanese woman has become the fifth Diamond Princess passenger to die from coronavirus, the country’s heath ministry has said.
The woman, who was in her s and from Tokyo, was diagnosed on the ship on February 6 and taken to hospital the following day.
Her condition deteriorated on the th and she was declared dead on Friday. She also suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure, medics said.
Almost 700 people fell sick with the virus aboard the Diamond Princess after an attempt to stem an outbreak on board by confining passengers to their cabins failed.
A Japanese woman in her s who was quarantined on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship amid a coronavirus outbreak has died, Japan’s health ministry has said
If the death is confirmed to be from coronavirus, then she will be the fifth passenger to die from the disease after an attempt to stop the spread by confining people to their cabins failed
The death was reported by Japanese media as the coronavirus-hit Hokkaido region declared a state of emergency.
Governor Naomichi Suzuki asked residents to stay at home over the weekend as the northern area struggles to contain the fast-spreading outbreak.
‘I believe it is necessary to take unprecedented, drastic steps,’ Suzuki told a televised meeting of local government executives.
Hokkaido region, known for ski resorts and vast forests, has seen at least coronavirus cases, including two deaths, and accounts for more than a quarter of all cases in Japan, apart from those on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.
The central government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has already dispatched a team of experts and officials to the region to contain the virus.
Japan is Currently in the midst of a coronavirus outbreak after hundreds of people fell sick in the province of Hokkaido, which declared a state of emergency on Friday (pictured)
Passersby wearing masks are seen in front of the former Hokkaido Government Office building in Sapporo amid a coronavirus outbreak
Hokkaido Governor Naomichi Suzuki (right) declares a state of emergency during a meeting on the new COVID – coronavirus in Hokkaido prefecture
‘I ask for help of all Hokkaido residents to protect lives and health of you and your loved ones and to ensure swift ending of the situation, ‘the governor said.
‘To prevent further spread of the virus, please refrain from going out during the weekend,’ he said.
The region’s ski resorts attract many wealthy Asian tourists, including from China.
Suzuki has already asked for local schools to be closed, but he did not announce any further concrete measures to fig ht the outbreak.
The virus has so far infected at least people across the country, including Hokkaido, and been linked to five deaths . Abe, who on Thursday also requested nationwide closure of schools, has said efforts During the coming weeks will determine whether the outbreak can be contained, a major concern in the run-up to Tokyo Olympics in July.
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