The number of crew members who tested positive for Covid-19 on the cruise ship Celebrity Apex has now reached 29, from the previous 7 reported cases on board, reports the French regional health agency. Two crew members were also evacuated from the ship and sent to the local hospital due to breathing difficulties.

Local authorities say so far, only people who have had the symptoms of the virus have been tested. However the entire crew will be tested to allow the repatriation of people who have not been contaminated. Those who leave the ship will be subject to strict confinement for 14 days.

For now the crew who have tested positive are to remain on the ship and measures are taken to prevent the virus from spreading through the air conditioning. At the moment there is no set date for the return of Celebrity Apex crew members back to their home countries.

There are 1,407 crew members from 60+ different countries who boarded Celebrity Apex at the French shipyard Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire. Celebrity Apex the latest cruise ship built for Celebrity Cruises was scheduled to be delivered last Friday, but remained docked in Saint-Nazaire following the outbreak of the Coronavirus.