Britain to evacuate citizens from coronavirus-hit cruise ship Diamond Princess – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

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The British foreign office said in a statement on Tuesday morning: “Given the conditions on board, we are working to organize a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible.” “Our staff are contacting British” nationals on board to make the necessary arrangements. We urge all those who have not yet responded to get in touch immediately. ” On Monday, a Downing Street spokesman said those on board the ship, which is docked near Yokohama, were being contacted about the possibility of a repatriation flight. It is not clear if those evacuated will be required to self-isolate once they return home, though on Monday a Holiday Inn at Heathrow airport was (block-booked to be used as a quarantine facilityin anticipation of more potential coronavirus cases arriving in the UK. The US flew more than 450 American citizens out on Sunday, while Canada, Australia, Italy, South Korea and Israel have all made plans to evacuate their citizens. David Abel, a passenger on board the ship, said on Monday he and his wife had been tested and were awaiting results. “It’s all getting to us now, not just me, other passengers as well, it’s the not-knowing factor that is the real challenge,” he said in a YouTube video filmed from the ship. He said that he was packing a bag just in case he is confirmed to have the virus, adding that he had heard that another passenger simply got a knock on her cabin door and was “frogmarched off” to hospital.