“On February 22, in accordance with the decision of the operational headquarters to prevent the importation and spread of a new coronavirus infection into Russia, Russian citizens who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship were evacuated from Japan,” Tass quoted Golikova as saying.
She noted that eight citizens returned to Russia, of which three of them during the stay on the liner was discovered coronavirus.
According to Golikova, the remaining citizens refused to fly.
She also added that the evacuation was carried out by the Ministry of Emergencies with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Russian Embassy in Japan, as well as with the participation of specialists from Rospotrebnadzor and Russian doctors.
In total, there were 24 Russians on the ship.
Golikova said that Russians evacuated from the Diamond Princess liner will be quarantined in Kazan for 14 days.
“During the quarantine, a diagnosis will be made for the presence of a new coronavirus,” she said.
Earlier it was reported that in Japan, 970 people who did not detect a coronavirus infection COVID-2019, went ashore with the Diamond Princess liner.