Chinese film director, Chang Kai, and his family members have died from the new coronavirus infection, which is the latest high-profile victims of the virus in Wuhan, where the outbreak started.
Kai, 55, passed away on 14 February. His parents died over the previous two weeks and his sister died hours after he did, while his wife is in a serious condition.
So far, globally, the new coronavirus, which is officially known as COVID-19, has sickened more than 75,000 and killed over 2,000 people.
Other high-profile members died in spite of intensive medical care, including the doctor who warned about the outbreak and the head of a hospital.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the disease would be mild in four out of five patients and about 20 percent will experience more severe symptoms.
Kai had nursed his father at home after he got sick in late January. He took his father to several hospitals, but could not find a bed, according to Chinese magazine Caixin.
Officials have been taking suspected coronavirus patients to quarantine centers, sometimes forcibly.
Meanwhile, some passengers from a cruise ship, Diamond Princess, who were quarantined due to the new coronavirus in Yokohama, Japan for about two weeks, have left the ship on Wednesday.
Yoshihide Suga, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, said that a few people are expected to leave each day for the next three days. Only people who are tested negative for the new virus are allowed to leave.
Princess Cruises said in a statement, “A certificate that indicates a negative COVID-19 test result is expected to be granted by Japanese health authorities to exit the ship.”
The cruise ship had been said to have nearly 3,700 passengers and crew aboard, which was quarantined in early February after a passenger, who got off in Hong Kong, was found to be tested positive for COVID-19. Since then, over 540 people on board have tested positive for the virus. On Sunday, over 300 U.S. citizens were evacuated from the ship. On Tuesday, the CDC said more than 100 American citizens were still on the ship or in hospitals in Japan.
