Virus cruise couple moved to hospital
A BRITISH couple hospitalised with coronavirus in Japan insist they are “in the best place” – as 70 other Britons are due to fly home today.
David and Sally Abel have been transferred to a hospital from the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has been quarantined just outside Yokohama, Japan.
David, 74, had posted regular online updates from the liner during the quarantine, and yesterday uploaded pictures from the couple’s hospital beds. About 70 other Britons from the ship are due to fly back to the UK from Tokyo today on a repatriation flight organised by the Foreign Office.
In a Facebook post, David, from Northamptonshire, said: “We arrived in lovely hospital a couple of hours ago.
“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 and it has not yet turned into pneumonia. We do have coronavirus.
“Tomorrow, the big tests commence. Chest X-rays, ECG, chest scan, urine and more.
“We are both in the best place. They do know what they are doing.”
David said that, following the treatment, the couple will need three rounds of all-clears in coronavirus tests.
The update comes as authorities in Tokyo said two elderly Japanese passengers taken off the ship have died from the virus.
Meanwhile, a Department of Health spokesman said on Wednesday that those Britons repatriated from the Diamond Princess will be quarantined for 14 days at Arrowe Park Hospital, Merseyside, on their UK return.
Reports from China said there have been 2,004 deaths and 74,185 confirmed infections so far.