Canadian dies in Japan from COVID-19 complications

OTTAWA -- A Canadian has died in Japan from complications related to COVID-19, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne tweeted on Friday.

Global Affairs has confirmed to CTV News that the individual was a passenger on the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was badly hit with the virus last month, prompting a nearly four-week quarantine off the coast of Yokohama, Japan. The government is providing consular assistance to the family affected.

Deeply saddened to learn of the death of a Canadian in Japan from complications related to #COVID19. Our deepest condolences to the family, to whom we are providing consular assistance during this difficult time.

— François-Philippe Champagne (FPC) ���� (@FP_Champagne) March 20, 2020

Of the 256 Canadians aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, more than 40 tested positive for the virus and were taken to hospital in Japan. The remaining 129 Canadians were repatriated and sent to quarantine at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton for 14 days.

Canadian passengers onboard the Grand Princess cruise ship off California were also sent to CFB Trenton.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is working with airlines to get stranded Canadians abroad back home, prioritizing those stuck in Morocco.

"We’re in discussion with Canadian airlines to help Canadians stranded abroad, come home," Trudeau said in a press conference on Friday.

"We will have more details to share but the first flight will be picking up Canadians from Morocco this weekend."

There are currently more than 900 total reported cases of COVID-19 in Canada, 13 Canadians have died from the virus and another 13 have recovered.

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  This undated electron microscope image made available by the U.S. National Institutes of Health in February 2020 shows the Novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. (NIAID-RML via AP)