Coronavirus news – live: UK working to evacuate nationals from cruise ship as British couple say they have tested positive
The government is “working to organise” a flight back to the UK for British nationals quarantined on board a cruise ship off the coast of Japan over coronavirus fears.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been under pressure to fly the 74 Britons on the Diamond Princess home after the US chartered two planes and repatriated 340 of its citizens.
Meanwhile, the number of new coronavirus cases in mainland China fell below 2,000 for the first time since January and claimed another 98 lives, among them the head of a leading hospital in China’s central city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the viral outbreak.
France's health minister has said there is a "credible risk" the coronavirus outbreak could turn into a pandemic and spread across the world.
"This is both a working assumption and a credible risk," Olivier Veran told France Info radio.
He said France was ready to deal with all the possibilities and its health system was sufficiently robust and well-equipped.
Four patients who tested positive for the virus remained in hospital in France, he added. An 80-year-old Chinese tourist died from the coronavirus in France last week, the first fatality in Europe.
Another 88 passengers on board the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship have tested positive for the coronavirus, Japan's Health Ministry has said, according to the country's national broadcasting organisation.
When asked about the government's treatment of his parents, Mr Abel described it as "appalling". "They haven't done anything," he said.
"They aren't communicating with us, the Foreign Office have my number, my wife's number, my brother's number, my sister's number and they haven't got back to us on anything and we have been calling them every day for four or five days."
Steve Abel said the conditions on the quarantined cruise ship were making it difficult for his father, David, to manage his diabetes and that he is also suffering from a tooth infection.
He added he could hear his father vomiting in the bathroom the last time he spoke to his mother on the phone but believed it might be due to "shock" rather than a symptom of the disease.
"The quarantine in Japan has been a failure, that is obvious, so [my parents] are obviously going to have to go through it again," Mr Abel said.
"I would like them to go through it here where the food is more suitable for my dad."
But he added: "I'm not actually that worried about the virus - looking at the recovery stats.
The son of the two British passengers on the quarantined cruise ship who have reportedly tested positive for coronavirus has said his parents are "not getting any communication" from the UK.
Steve Abel, son of Sally and David Abel, who are being held on the Diamond Princess, said: "They are very high-spirited people."
He added: "There are cracks in the armour and they are getting down."
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he said: "My mum breaks down in tears frequently, my dad is short-tempered.
"They are not getting any communication from our country, so they are in the dark and feeling very unloved."
Two British passengers on quarantined cruise ship claim to test positive for virus
Two British passengers aboard a quarantined cruise ship claim to have tested positive for coronavirus.
David Abel, who has been aboard the Diamond Princess with his wife Sally, posted on Facebook: "There is going to be a time of quiet. We have been proved positive and leaving for hospital soon. Blessings all xxx"
In a subsequent post, Mr Abel appeared to question the positive findings, saying: "Frankly i think this is a setup! We are NOT being taken to a hospital but a hostel. That's where partners are sent waiting out there quarantine.
"No phone, no wi-fi and no medical facilities. I really am smelling a very big rat here!"
When asked if he was sure the test was positive, Mr Abel replied: "I doubt it was positive. If it was, we would be in hospital."
Government 'working to organise' flight home for Britons on quarantined ship The Diamond Princess is quarantined off Yokohama, Japan (REUTERS/Issei Kato)
The government has announced it is "working to organise" a flight to repatriate British nationals on board a cruise ship quarantined off the coast of Japan.
"Given the conditions on board, we are working to organise a flight back to the UK for British nationals on the Diamond Princess as soon as possible," a statement from the department said.
"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."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been under pressure to fly the 74 Britons on the Diamond Princess home after the US chartered two planes and repatriated 340 of its citizens.
On Monday, Japan's Health Ministry confirmed 99 more people on board had been diagnosed with the illness, bringing the total to 454.
Four Britons with confirmed coronavirus are currently in hospital in Japan, according to the latest official figures.
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