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Fitness & Health

18th Feb 2020

Irish passengers are on board two ships where the coronavirus has been detected

Alan Loughnane

Coronavirus ireland

The number is higher than originally thought.

Tánaiste and Minster for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has confirmed that there are a small number of Irish passengers on board two cruise ships where the coronavirus has been detected.

Coveney said the number of Irish people on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship off the coast of Japan is more than the two originally thought.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Coveney said: “It’s a small number though, and we’re dealing with each individual case.”

Some 355 cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed among the ship’s passengers.

The quarantine is set to end in stages on the ship on Wednesday.

The Tánaiste also said there are Irish people on a second ship off Cambodia that is being quarantined.

“There is a second cruise ship off Cambodia, we’re working with Irish nationals on both of those ships to make sure they’re safe. And if they’re in quarantine to make sure those conditions are safe,” he said.

Coveney said he didn’t want to go into too much detail as people are entitled to confidentiality when being provided with consular services.