Pacific / New Caledonia

Woman quarantined in New Caledonia tests negative for coronavirus

11:21 am on 11 February 2020

A woman quarantined in New Caledonia has been cleared after testing negative for coronavirus.

Noumea airport at La Tontouta New Caledonia Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel

Arriving from China via Tokyo, she had an elevated temperature and was taken to a special ward.

Test results have cleared her and she is free to leave.

Fears of the spread of the coronavirus has led to the cancellation of several cruise ship visits in the outer islands this month.

Two New Caledonian residents are meanwhile reported to be on the cruise ship held off Japan because of a coronavirus outbreak on board.

The Diamond Princess was placed in quarantine for two weeks upon arriving in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, on 3 February, after a man who disembarked in Hong Kong was diagnosed with the virus.

About 3700 people are aboard the ship, which usually has a crew of 1100 and a passenger capacity of 2670. Passengers have been allowed on decks in shifts to get fresh air and encouraged to regularly take their temperature.

Coronavirus testing onboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan. Photo: Twitter / daxa_tw