TAIPEI, March 1 (Xinhua) -- A passenger evacuated from the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan was confirmed to be Taiwan's 40th case of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to the island's epidemic monitoring agency Sunday.

The latest patient, a woman in her 70s living in northern Taiwan, boarded the cruise ship on Jan. 20 and was originally diagnosed with COVID-19 infection on Feb. 15 after the ship was quarantined off Yokohama of Japan since Feb. 4, even though she did not show any respiratory symptoms, the agency said in a press release.

She was hospitalized in Japan from Feb. 16 and then returned to Taiwan on Feb. 26 after two tests showed she was negative for the virus. However, through three tests in Taiwan, the latest result showed that she is still infected.

The woman wore a mask the whole time on the flight and was separated from other passengers with nobody sitting within two rows in front of or behind her, the statement said, adding that she was taken by ambulance to be quarantined at a hospital upon her arrival.

Since people having contacts with her after her arrival in Taiwan, including the medical and quarantine staff, were well equipped and protected, no further infection tests are needed, the agency said.