Canada will send three planes to Peru to repatriate citizens left stranded abroad by the novel coronavirus pandemic, François-Philippe Champagne said.

"So that’s why information is key in times of crisis and in times where people are nervous, and it’s understandable."

Two Maritimers and one Albertan working for the same non-profit are stuck in Guatemala, with no return in sight.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne said he was tested for COVID-19 after experiencing flu-like symptoms after returning from a trip.

A total of 228 Canadians, not including infected crew, were repatriated on Monday night.

Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne struck a diplomatic tone as he described a "science-first'' approach that includes the government's Five Eyes security partners to keep COVID-19 from running amok across the continent.

Thousands of passengers who'd been taking a cruise on the Diamond Princess have been stuck aboard the ship, docked in Yokohama while the illness dubbed COVID-19 has sickened hundreds.

Passengers will be screened for any symptoms before they board in Japan.

Canada met with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the Munich Security Conference, and Champagne told a news conference afterward that they made it clear to Zarif what Iran must do.

The number of infections was down sharply on the previous day, when a change in the methods of diagnosing patients led to a record spike in cases.