A British couple in quarantine on board a cruise ship in Japan have begged British authorities to get them home, as coronavirus cases on board the Diamond Princess rise.
David Abel has been documenting his experience on board the ship , which has been docked off the coast of Yokohama in Japan for around three weeks.
According to Johns Hopkins University, which is mapping the outbreak , there have been confirmed cases of COVID – , the disease caused by coronavirus, on board the ship – the highest amount outside China .
Image: The ship is anchored off Yokohama port
February 7: David Abel details his quarantine
Speaking in a YouTube live stream on Sunday morning from the ship, he said he had not heard “anything” from the UK government.
He said: “All we’ve got is a message about an hour ago from the … embassy based in Tokyo, to say they’ve acknowledged the Americans are taking their folk home today. Canadians are going to be following soon. The Australians are probably going to be soon after.
“The UK government, through the ambassador here in Tokyo, has said the World Health Organization acknowledges all of this action taking place but with regard to the United Kingdom … it’s not likely we will be repatriated.”
US officials announced on Saturday that its citizens will be airlifted back to the country amid the rising number of people being tested positive for COVID – 31.
Canadians and those living in Hong Kong have also been told they will be leaving the ship.
Mr Abel adds: “It leaves us feeling like we are not wanted back in the UK – border control have put the barriers up and are saying ‘no’. “
He has previously hit out at Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saying he had” no confidence “in him, despite being a” staunch Tory “.
US citizens are being evacuated from the Diamond Princess
Image: Hundreds of people have tested positive for the virus on board
Mr Abel has also begged billionaire Richard Branson for help, asking him how much it would cost to charter a Virgin plane to fly the UK citizens on board to Brize Norton to allow them to undertake their quarantine back home.
“Whatever the cost, we will somehow find a way of paying for that plane.
“Don’t know how but we wouldn’t want you to be out of pocket on that.
” But this is just how damned desperate some of the passengers are becoming. ”
According to Johns Hopkins University, 1, (people have died as a result of contracting COVID –
On Saturday, a man died in France from the illness, marking the first death in Europe.
In the UK, all but one of those who had been hospitalized for the virus have been discharged.
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