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British Couple To Leave Quarantined Cruise Ship After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

A British couple on board a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan have tested positive for coronavirus.

David and Sally Abel announced the news on Facebook, saying they were being taken to hospital, but a few minutes later said they were in fact going to a hostel “with no medical facilities”.

In the same post he said he is “really smelling a very big rat here” and in a reply he added that neither he nor his wife had any symptoms of the virus.

The couple have been posting regular updates on social media about their situation and have garnered a huge following.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast on Tuesday morning, their son Steve said his parents are “not getting any communication” from the UK.

He added: “They are very high-spirited people. There are cracks in the armour and they are getting down.”

“My mum breaks down in tears frequently, my dad is short-tempered.

“They are not getting any communication from our country, so they are in the ark and feeling very unloved.”

Ten passengers were diagnosed with coronavirus on February 4 while the ship was in Japanese waters. It was taken to the Port of Yakohama for a 14-day quarantine where it remains.

Cases of the virus have steadily increased. On Monday, the Japanese Health Ministry confirmed 99 more people on board have been diagnosed with the illness, bringing the total to 454.

David and Sally Abel.
David and Sally Abel.

The news comes as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) announced it is is “working to organise” a flight back to the UK for British nationals on board the Diamond Princess.

The department has faced pressure to fly home the 74 Britons after the US chartered two planes and repatriated 340 of its citizens.

“Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible,” a statement from the department said.

“Our staff are contacting British nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements. We urge all those who have not yet...

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