Tokyo, February 17 (RHC)-- The number of coronavirus infections continues to mount, with 71,000 confirmed cases globally and nearly 1,800 deaths.  All but five of the deaths were in mainland China. 

However, Chinese officials said that Sunday marked the third straight day when there was a drop in new cases.  A Chinese man who was visiting France has died from the disease, marking the first fatality in Europe and outside of Asia.

Over 300 Americans were repatriated after being evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship that has been docked at a port in Yokohama, Japan, for two weeks.  Fourteen of them were infected with the disease.  The passengers, who have now landed in Texas and California, will be quarantined on bases in the United States for two weeks.  Over 450 passengers on the cruise ship contracted coronavirus.  Around 3,600 people were quarantined on the Diamond Princess.

Meanwhile, Chinese state media released a speech by President Xi Jinping indicating he was aware of the seriousness of the outbreak weeks before alerting the Chinese public.