14 Americans with coronavirus among those evacuated from cruise in Japan

Fourteen Americans evacuated on Sunday from a cruise ship quarantined in Japan tested positive for coronavirus, the State Department and and Department Health and Human Services said in a joint statement on Monday. 

The U.S. evacuated more than 300 U.S. citizens from the Diamond Princess cruise ship on two charter flights, one to Travis Air Force base in California and one to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. 

The evacuated cruise ship passengers will remain under an additional 14-day quarantine, the U.S. officials said.

Officials said that the 14 individuals who had tested positive for the virus two to three days earlier were kept in isolation while on the flight, separated from other passengers, and continued to be asymptomatic.

“These individuals were moved in the most expeditious and safe manner to a specialized containment area on the evacuation aircraft to isolate them in accordance with standard protocols,” the officials said in the statement.

They added that those who have tested positive would be transported to an “appropriate location” and remain in isolation as they get treatment.

“Every precaution to ensure proper isolation and community protection measures are being taken, driven by the most up-to-date risk assessments by U.S. health authorities,” the statement reads.

Australia, Canada, Hong Kong and Italy are planning similar flights to evacuate its citizens that are quarantined on the cruise ship.