An Elizabethton physician, Dr. Arnold Hopland, along with the remaining passengers on the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, docked off the coast of Japan, have been told they will all be able to leave the ship by Monday. However, they must stay in Japan another 14 days, but not under quarantine. Dr. Hopland and his wife, Jeanie, were aboard the ship when everyone on the ship was quarantined Feb. 5 due to the coronavirus.

Mrs. Hopland tested positive for the virus and was removed from the ship to a hospital, where she has been treated. Her husband said that even though she tested positive for the coronavirus, she had not had any symptoms except for a cough.

Out of the 3,711 quarantined passengers and crew on the ship, at least 634 had tested positive for the virus Thursday.

Hopland told family members he did not know when he and his wife would be returning to the states.