Hundreds of passengers began leaving the Diamond Princess cruise ship Wednesday after the end of a much criticized, two week quarantine that failed to stop the spread of a new virus among passengers and crew. Officials still were continuing tests for the coronavirus that has sickened tens of thousands of people in China and more than 540 on the ship. Some passengers said on Twitter they received health check forms asking if they had any symptoms such as headache, fever, cough. Passengers who tested negative and had no symptoms still had to get their body temperature checked before leaving. A J

The federal government says there are now 43 Canadians on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan who have contracted the novel coronavirus. Meantime about 225 others from the Diamond Princess are set to arrive home later this week. Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says it's not yet clear just how many of those Canadians will be airlifted home. But she stresses that any sick people will have to stay in Japan for treatment. The healthy Canadians who come home will have to be quarantined for another two weeks in Cornwall, Ontario.

About 255 Canadians on a cruise ship off the shore of Yokohama, Japan should be on a government chartered plane soon bound for Canada, and ultimately a two-week quarantine in Cornwall, Ontario. So far none of them are showing symptoms of the virus called COVID-19. At a news conference in Vancouver federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu says she does not have an exact timeline yet. As for people coming into Canada from China, Hajdu says this country is taking its cue from the World Health Organization on what measures should be taken. About 15 Canadians on the Diamond Princess have the new coronav

Angry demonstrations have broken out in Mexico City as hundreds of women rage against the gruesome slaying and mutilation of a young woman. The case of Ingrid Escamilla has come to personify frustration over the rising incidence of gender-related killings, or femicides. She was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, and indignation grew after some media outlets published horrific photos of her skinned corpse. Friday morning, dozens of protesters spray-painted slogans such as ``We won't be silenced'' on the National Palace. Hours later hundreds marched on a media outlet that published the images

The outbreak of a novel coronavirus is prompting calls in China to ban the sale of wildlife and exotic species. The COVID-19 virus spreading throughout the globe is suspected to have originated in the same type of live animal market that spawned the SARS epidemic in 2002. Now, more than 60-million people are under lockdown in more than a dozen Chinese cities, and the virus has sickened more than eight times more people than SARS.

Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says Canadian health workers are assisting in Japan after 12 Canadians contracted the novel coronavirus while on a cruise ship.Champagne says three members of the Public Health Agency of Canada and two medical personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces have been sent to Yokohama, the Japanese port city where the Diamond Princess has been docked since last week.Some 3,500 passengers on the ship are under quarantine and 218 people have tested positive for the coronavirus.Champagne says the Japanese government will allow some elderly people to co

China is reporting 254 new deaths and a spike in virus cases of more than 15,000, after its hardest hit province applied a new system that broadens the scope of diagnoses for the outbreak, which has spread to more than 20 countries.Japan is also reporting its first death.The hardest hit Chinese province has replaced its top officials in an apparent response to public criticism of local authorities' handling of the epidemic.The total deaths in mainland China now are more than 1,300, with confirmed cases exceeding 59,000.That number now includes patients who have been diagnosed with a doctors'

A cruise ship turned away by other Asian and Pacific governments due to virus fears anchored Thursday off Cambodia, which is checking the health of its 2,200 passengers and crew. The Westerdam was unwelcome elsewhere even though operator Holland America Line said no cases of the COVID-19 viral illness have been confirmed among the 1,455 passengers and 802 crew members on board.The ship is anchored a kilometre (.6 miles) from the main Sihanoukville port and a team of health officials will conduct health checks and determine the disembarkation process, Preah Sihanoukville Gov. Kouch Chamrouen t

The number of new cases of COVID-19 in China dropped for a second straight day, raising hopes the epidemic of the new coronavirus may be peaking. Chinese health officials report the outbreak has infected about 45,000 people and killed more than 1,100. Another 39 new cases have been confirmed on the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined at Yokohama, Japan but it's not clear yet if any of them are Canadians.The third person to be diagnosed with the virus in Ontario has tested negative two times in 24 hours and is no longer considered infectious.The Chinese Grand Prix set for Shanghai in Apri