SAN FRANCISCO, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Some 407 people were taken off the coronavirus-striken Grand Princess cruise ship at the port of Oakland on Friday, the United States Department of Health and Human Services and the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services announced on Tuesday.

The pace of disembarkation from the ship is expected to increase in the following days, according to the announcement.

Among those to disembark were 173 U.S. residents, 149 of whom were taken to Travis Air Force Base in Northern California, and 24 were transported to unspecified locations via ambulance. Out of 234 Canadian passengers, 232 were transported for repatriation to Canada and two were taken by ambulance to an undisclosed location.

California Office of Emergency Services officials emphasized that the first day of disembarkation focused on passengers with the greatest medical need, not necessarily related to COVID-19. Many of these passengers had limitations on their movement which required greater time and care while de-boarding the vessel.

The Grand Princess cruise ship that carries thousands of people, including 21 people who have tested positive for coronavirus, docked at the port of Oakland Monday after being held off at sea for days.