BANGKOK — A cruise ship being investigated in Australia for sparking coronavirus infections has sailed into Philippine waters to deliver Filipino crewmen house.

The Philippine coast guard stated Thursday the Ruby Princess will drop anchor in Manila Bay, the place at the least 16 different cruise ships have converged since final month whereas ready for greater than 5,000 Filipino crewmembers to be examined for the coronavirus earlier than disembarking.

Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo stated 214 Filipino crewmen on board the Ruby Princess shall be examined.

The Ruby Princess has been linked to 19 deaths in Australia and two in the US. An Australian authorities inquiry is underway into why 2,700 passengers and crew have been allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19 earlier than the take a look at outcomes of sick passengers have been identified.

Many passengers flew from Sydney abroad. Two died at house in the US, together with Los Angeles resident Chung Chen, whose household is suing Princess Cruises for greater than $1 million in a lawsuit alleging it didn’t alert passengers to the danger.

— BACK IN THE AIR: South Korea’s largest airline will resume some flights subsequent month to broaden cargo transport and put together for a doable improve in vacationers as international locations ease their coronavirus restrictions. Regardless of the elevated flights, Korean Air stated it can nonetheless be working solely 32 of its 110 worldwide routes in June. Korean Air has stated the coronavirus pandemic has pushed South Korean airways into an existential disaster and known as for stronger authorities help. The corporate is at the moment rotating 70% of its 20,000 staff on six months paid depart.

— SINGAPORE CASES SURGE: The variety of folks contaminated in Singapore surged previous 20,000 as extra overseas staff residing in crowded dormitories have been recognized. Town-state reported 788 new instances to take its complete to 20,198. Overseas staff residing in dorms accounted for almost 90% of the instances. Officers anticipated the upsurge as they take a look at residents within the locked-down dormitories. Singapore will let chosen companies function from Might 12 in a gradual easing of a two-month lockdown that is because of finish June 1.