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Coronavirus: Britons stuck on Diamond Princess to be flown home Coronavirus: Britons stuck on Diamond Princess to be flown home
(about 2 hours later)
Passengers from cruise ship will leave Japan on Friday, says foreign secretaryPassengers from cruise ship will leave Japan on Friday, says foreign secretary
An evacuation flight for Britons stuck on a cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan over coronavirus fears will leave Tokyo on Friday, the foreign secretary has said. A British couple diagnosed with coronavirus on a cruise ship in Japan have praised the care they are receiving, saying they are “in the best place”.
Dominic Raab said information had been provided to those registered for the flight, but he urged other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact the Foreign Office. He added: “We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan.” David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, have been transferred for hospital treatment from the Diamond Princess, which has been quarantined near Yokohama.
Those repatriated from the Diamond Princess will be quarantined at Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral on their return, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said. About 70 other Britons from the ship are due to fly back to the UK from Tokyo on Friday on a repatriation flight organised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Only passengers with no symptoms of the virus will be on the plane.
Posting on Facebook alongside photos of the pair in their hospital beds, David Abel said: “We arrived in lovely hospital a couple of hours ago. Taken by ambulance blues & twos the entire journey.
“Outside the hospital I came over a bit weird and nearly passed out. Every pore on my body opened and I was wheelchaired to our room. Full health inspection and now we know what’s going on. We both contracted a cold (unaware of) and it has not yet turned into pneumonia. (we do have coronavirus).
“Tomorrow the big tests commence. Chest x-rays, ECG, chest scan, urine + more. We are both in the best place! They do know what they are doing and our two nurses are gorgeous. Sally likes the Dr too.”
The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said information had been provided to those registered for the repatriation flight, but he urged other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact the Foreign Office. “We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan,” he said.
Those repatriated from the Diamond Princess will be quarantined at Arrowe Park hospital in Wirral for 14 days, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said.
There were 78 British passengers on the cruise liner when cases of the coronavirus strain known as Covid-19 started to emerge. Four British cases have since been confirmed by the Foreign Office.There were 78 British passengers on the cruise liner when cases of the coronavirus strain known as Covid-19 started to emerge. Four British cases have since been confirmed by the Foreign Office.
It is understood only healthy passengers with no symptoms of the virus will have a seat on the plane, with all to spend 14 days at Arrowe Park. Anyone who develops symptoms during the flight will be taken to hospital, while it is understood any pre-existing cases will be treated in Japan. Anyone who develops symptoms during the flight will be taken to hospital; pre-existing cases are being treated in Japan.
Meanwhile, the European commission has announced the EU will be financing the repatriation of citizens from any of the bloc’s countries still stuck on the Diamond Princess.Meanwhile, the European commission has announced the EU will be financing the repatriation of citizens from any of the bloc’s countries still stuck on the Diamond Princess.
As of 2pm on Wednesday, a total of 5,216 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus, of whom nine had tested positive. As of 2pm on Wednesday, 5,216 people in the UK had been tested for coronavirus, of whom nine had tested positive.
Reports on Wednesday from mainland China said there had been 2,004 deaths and 74,185 confirmed infections of the virus.Reports on Wednesday from mainland China said there had been 2,004 deaths and 74,185 confirmed infections of the virus.
New cases have fallen to fewer than 2,000 per day for the past two days but officials and analysts have warned the threat of a more serious outbreak remains as people gradually return to work after a prolonged lunar new year holiday. New cases have fallen to fewer than 2,000 per day for the past two days but officials and analysts say the threat of a more serious outbreak remains as people return to work after a prolonged lunar new year holiday.
While the overall spread of the virus has been slowing, the situation remains severe in Hubei province, where the virus is thought to have originated. While the overall spread of the virus has slowed, the situation remains severe in Hubei province, where the virus is thought to have originated.