Pounded by critics, Japan defends handling of coronavirus outbreak

TOKYO - Japan faces mounting criticism for its handling of a coronavirus-afflicted cruise ship, with questions over a patchy quarantine, incremental testing and the decision to let people walk away after 14 days.

While passengers were confined to their cabins, those with balconies could sometimes be seen talking to neighbours without masks. " majority of the infections, we believe, occurred before the date when the quarantine measures started," he told reporters. And in an indication that foreign governments do not believe the on-ship quarantine has worked, those being repatriated will undergo another quarantine of two weeks - the presumed virus incubation period.

Dr Michael Ryan, head of the WHO's health emergencies programme, acknowledged there"has been much more transmission than expected on the ship". And as many of those of who test positive do not have symptoms, officials concede it is hard to prove when they contracted the virus.

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