Military personnel set up a covered walkway (bottom) next to the Diamond Princess cruise ship, with around 3,600 people quarantined on board due to fears of the new coronavirus, at the Daikoku Pier Cruise Terminal in Yokohama port on Monday. Photo: AFP

More than 800 cases of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases and 10 deaths occurred during outbreaks on three cruise ship voyages, according to a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Monday.

Cases linked to several additional cruises have also been reported across the United States, said the report.

The three voyages include the Diamond Princess cruise ship voyage and two voyages of the Grand Princess.

Among 3,711 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, 712 had positive test results for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Of these, 331 were asymptomatic at the time of testing, according to the report.

As of March 21, of 469 persons aboard the Grand Princess with available test results, 78 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, said the report.

The Diamond Princess and Grand Princess had more than 800 total COVID-19 cases, including 10 deaths, said the report.

Cruise ships are often settings for outbreaks of infectious diseases because of their closed environment and contact between travelers from many countries, according to the report.

Outbreaks of COVID-19 on cruise ships pose a risk for rapid spread of disease beyond the voyage.

Aggressive efforts are required to contain spread. All persons should defer all cruise travel worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic, said the report.