Berhampur: According to the Indian Embassy in Japan, 99 new positive cases on-board Diamond Princess have been confirmed on February 17, bringing the total number to 454. This piece of information mounted up anxiety and apprehension of Berhampur-based Nayak family, whose son Shivashis is a member of the crew in the vessel.
Amid the dreaded coronavirus infection and fear due to many positive cases of COVID-19 among the people stuck at ‘Diamond Princess’ in Japan, Shivasis has sent a SOSs seeking help for evacuation as early as possible. He started his journey on the ship from Malaysia. A software engineer by profession, he travelled up to Yokohama (Japan) via – Bangkok and Vietnam.
Hundreds of passengers who tested negative for the new coronavirus have begun leaving a quarantined cruise ship. The six Indian passengers along with all the others will be tested in batches starting Wednesday, before being allowed out. However, the nightmare of 132 Indian crew members, including Shivasis, who have been doggedly at their stations, continues.
They will not only be the last people to step off the boat because they will continue to serve the other passengers but their quarantine will start after the last passenger has left the ship, said sources. A total of 138 Indians, including 132 crew and 6 passengers, were among the 3,711 people on board the ship that arrived at the Japanese coast earlier this month.