Coronavirus outbreak: Indians stuck aboard cruise quarantined off Japan coast

Jaishankar tweeted Friday evening, "Many Indian crew and some Indian passengers are onboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess quarantined off Japan due to coronavirus."

He added, "None have tested positive (for coronavirus), as per the latest information provided by our Embassy (in Tokyo). We are closely following the developments."

Jaishankar's tweet came after an Indian Diamond Princess crew urged the government to step in.

In a Facebook video, Binay Kumar Sarkar (30) asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for help.

Sarkar, a crew member on Diamond Princess, said that the coronavirus infection is spreading aboard the cruise and raised questions about quarantine standards.

He said all crew members ate together in the mess, where the infection could spread further.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Sarkar asked the government to quarantine the Indians on the ship somewhere in India.

His brother told the publication that they have written to the West Bengal government and approached BJP MPs in Raigunj and Darjeeling, who have assured assistance.

Meanwhile, state Forest Minister Rajib Banerjee said that they have urged the Japanese Embassy to take immediate action.

Reportedly, around 3,700 people aboard Diamond Princess have been quarantined near Yokohama port for at least two weeks.

The cruise was quarantined after an 80-year-old Hong Kong man—who disembarked the ship in Hong Kong on January 25—later fell ill and was diagnosed with coronavirus.

Since then, 61 people on board have been diagnosed with the virus till Friday, up from 20 the day before.

Passengers have since shared their living conditions aboard the luxury cruise online.

Apparently, the body temperatures of people aboard are regularly monitored.

Passengers are also to remain inside their cabins. Those in cabins without windows or decks are allowed access to an open deck, albeit with restrictions.

Congregating in groups is apparently barred and everyone must maintain a meter's distance from others on board.

The ongoing coronavirus outbreak involves a new strain, called the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The virus originated in the Chinese city of Wuhan and has since spread to around 25 countries.

Over 34,000 people worldwide have been infected with the virus and 724 people have died (722 in mainland China alone).

The virus causes flu-like symptoms, and in severe cases, may result in death.