Some of the crew aboard an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in the city of Nagasaki who have tested negative for the novel coronavirus will be sent home as early as this week, according to the vessel's operator.

The Costa Cruise office in Japan said Monday it plans to send home members of the crew from the Philippines and Indonesia on one or multiple chartered flights and is considering using the same plane for Europeans. The crew members are from more than 30 nations, mostly in Asia.

A total of 148 crew members aboard the Costa Atlantica, currently docked at a plant belonging to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. in Nagasaki, have tested positive for COVID-19.