Photo/Illutration The Diamond Princess cruise ship is seen docked alongside the Daikoku Futo pier in Yokohama on Feb. 7, when it was under quarantine. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Fifteen new cases of the novel coronavirus have been confirmed among passengers of the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship who were transported to medical institutions due to acute disease or for other reasons.

The health ministry said on March 15 that the 15 people, including six Japanese, are men and women ranging from their 50s to 70s.

Seven showed no symptoms. Five of the 15 infected later tested negative for the virus and already had been discharged from the hospital.

The ministry said the health monitoring of all those who were aboard the ship has been completed, as that of crew members of the ship ended on the same day.

The crew stayed at a government facility after disembarking from the ship and all are expected to leave the facility by March 16.

The ministry also announced that a two-week follow-up period ended for 1,011 passengers who showed no symptoms and disembarked after testing negative for the virus.

According to the ministry, the 1,011 people disembarked between Feb. 19 and 23. During the follow-up period, 124 developed symptoms, including a fever and cough. Among these, 62 visited medical institutions.

The ministry said 249 of the 1,011 passengers, including those with no symptoms but asked to be tested, underwent diagnostic testing and seven tested positive.

In all, the 15 new cases put the number who tested positive for the coronavirus among the more than 3,700 passengers and crew members at 712, according to data released by the ministry. Of the infected, 458 have been released from the hospital and seven have died.

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