Four New UK Coronavirus Cases Confirmed Among Diamond Princess Evacuees

Four people who were evacuated from the cruise ship Diamond Princess to the UK have tested positive for coronavirus.

The four have been transferred to specialist NHS infection centres.

They had been among a group of 30 British nationals and two Irish citizens who arrived at a quarantine block at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside on Saturday.

Officials have confirmed the virus was passed on in the Diamond Princess, which had been held for more than two weeks off the coast of Japan.

More than 600 people aboard the ship tested positive for the virus whilst it was held under quarantine.

A statement on the Department of Health Website from England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty reads: “Four further patients in England have tested positive for COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to thirteen.

“The virus was passed on in the Diamond Princess cruise ship and the patients are being transferred from Arrowe Park to specialist NHS infection centres.”

Meanwhile, Austria has halted all train traffic to and from Italy after suspicions that a train at its southern border with the country had two passengers possibly infected with coronavirus on board.

Austria’s interior ministry said it had been informed by Italy’s railway company that two people had a fever and stopped the train at the Brenner crossing before it could enter Austria.

The train was coming from Venice en route to Munich in southern Germany. Italian state railways said it did not immediately have additional details.

Austria, which shares its southern border with Italy, has expressed concern about the recent outbreak of the virus...

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