Cruise ship coronavirus patients David and Sally Abel post pictures from hospital after being treated

A British couple diagnosed with coronavirus in Japan have insisted they are “in the best place” as they posted pictures of themselves receiving treatment in hospital.

David and Sally Abel have been transferred to hospital for treatment after being on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined near Yokohama, Japan.

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.

The news comes as authorities in Tokyo said two elderly Japanese passengers taken off the ship have died from the virus.

Sharing the couple’s experience via Facebook, Mr Abel, from Northamptonshire, wrote: “We arrived in lovely hospital a couple of hours ago.

“Taken by ambulance blues & twos the entire journey.

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“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).”

Sharing pictures of himself and his wife in hospital beds, he wrote: “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.”

He said that following treatment, the couple will need three rounds of all-clears on coronavirus tests, adding: “Wi-fi will not work for me, so this will be the final communication for some time. See you all before you know it.”

In other posts, Mr Abel said his wife Sally had a bed in the same room as him and that they were “thinking of all the Brits flying to UK tomorrow”.

Meanwhile, another UK national on the ship who has recovered from the virus posted on Facebook on Wednesday to say he is heading home and will do another two weeks quarantine “back in blighty”.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab confirmed the evacuation flight for British nationals on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship will leave from Tokyo.

He said: “Details have been sent to those who have registered for the flight. We urge other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact us. We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said on Wednesday that Britons repatriated from the Diamond Princess will be quarantined for 14 days at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral on their return.

There were 78 British passengers on the cruise ship when cases of coronavirus started to emerge.

Four British cases have since been confirmed by the Foreign Office, which said Britons diagnosed with the virus will be supported while they undergo treatment in Japan.

As of 2pm on Wednesday, a total of 5,216 people in the UK have been tested for coronavirus, of whom nine have tested positive.