Japan reports two coronavirus deaths among cruise ship passengers

Japan on Wednesday reported the deaths of two cruise ship passengers from coronavirus, The New York Times reported.

A couple in their 80s became the first two deaths of passengers previously aboard the quarantined Diamond Princess. 

The 87-year-old man and the 84-year-old woman were hospitalized on Feb. 11 and 12, and both had previous health issues, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported, according to the Times.

The deaths come as the Diamond Princess has begun disembarking passengers after a two-week quarantine on the ship. Only those who test negative for the coronavirus and do not have any symptoms are being released.

More than 600 ship passengers are now infected as the virus has spread throughout the vessel. Some Americans who were quarantined on the ship returned to the U.S. this week for a two-week quarantine. 

The fast-spreading virus has infected more than 75,000 people and killed more than 2,100, most of which occurred in mainland China, where the virus originated, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are 84 confirmed cases in Japan and 15 in the U.S.