Britons on quarantined coronavirus ship: ‘At least it’s sunny’

Britons isolated on a cruise ship in Japan have said they are trying to enjoy the sunshine as they contemplate two weeks in quarantine.

They are among around 3,700 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess, which is being kept at the port city of Yokohama, about 25 miles from Tokyo.

An 80-year-old passenger from Hong Kong tested positive for coronavirus after sailing on the ship last month.

This led to the screening of all remaining passengers and crew, with a further 10 cases confirmed.

Passengers said they were being asked to stay in their cabins and that food was being delivered to them.

David and Sally Abel, of Woodford Halse in Oxfordshire, were on the cruise to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr Abel, 74, told Sky News his main concern is his diabetes, as he needs more insulin which he would need to get from the ship’s medic.

But he added: “It’s going to be an ordeal, but it’ll be manageable. We are staying positive – to grumble about the situation wouldn’t be the right thing to do at all.

“The holiday was fantastic, and the crew are doing the right thing – they’re trying to keep everybody safe.

“We are very lucky not to be in one of the inside cabins. Here, we have a balcony, we can have the door open, we’ve got the warmth of the sunshine and we’ve got fresh air.”

Mr Abel said the situation had “changed dramatically overnight”, adding that an intercom announcement at 6.30am had told passengers they could not leave their cabins for any reason.

He added: “We’ve got friends on board who are really struggling though, because they’re smokers. The captain announced everyone was banned from smoking in cabins and on balconies, and our friends are tearing their hair out!”

He said most of the passengers are Japanese but, along with a few other Britons, there are also Americans, Canadians and other nationalities.

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Alan, from Eastwood in Nottinghamshire, is on board the cruise with his wife and praised the ship’s crew for “doing their best under very difficult circumstances”.

He told Sky News: “If we are confined to a cabin for 14 days, it will drive us mad. If the virus doesn’t get me first, my wife will probably push me overboard after a few days!

“The upside is it is sunny and I can see the ocean.”

He added: “We were rather hoping to be off the ship in the next few days, so we have not contacted the UK government yet.

“I would like them to send a plane to bring us home like they have done for those in China, because all our plans to get back are ruined and the demand and cost for future flights is increasing daily.”

The UK Government is chartering a final flight to bring British nationals back from coronavirus-hit Wuhan.

The plane is expected to leave in the early hours of Sunday morning local time and will land at RAF Brize Norton, the Foreign Office said – adding that they want to ensure that all British nationals in Hubei province contact their team to register if they want to leave on the flight.

More than 20,400 people have been infected with the virus and Chinese state television reported 479 people had died as at Tuesday.

:: British nationals in China’s Hubei province wanting to register for the flight should register by calling +86 (0) 10 8529 6600, or the FCO in London on (+44) (0)207 008 1500.

(c) Sky News 2020: Britons on quarantined coronavirus ship: ‘At least it’s sunny’