A British couple who revealed they have been diagnosed with the coronavirus may not be ill after all.David and Sally Abel said a "massive communication error" meant there was a misunderstanding when Japanese quarantine officials came to their cabin aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.Mr Abel wrote: "They came to our door and told us to be ready to be taken to the hostel.
My mindset was 'virus' and said 'positive then'.
He nodded."I don't think he was saying yes to the virus but positive we were moving out? He followed up by saying it will probably be just four or five days.
You would not say that to a virus victim."Image:A passenger leaves the Diamond Princess after spending two weeks in quarantineSome passengers and crew who have been stuck on board the coronavirus-hit ship for two weeks are starting to disembark.The quarantine of the Diamond Princess off the coast of Japan has attracted controversy - with 542 people on board falling ill with COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.About 500 people are expected to leave the ship on Wednesday, with the entire process completed by Friday.The UK's Foreign Office says that an evacuation flight from Tokyo to the UK is being planned for later this week - but British passengers and crew are being told that they may not be able to get on the plane if they leave the cruise.More follows