An evacuation flight for Britons stuck on a cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan over coronavirus fears will leave Tokyo on Friday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said.
Mr Raab said information has been provided to those registered for the flight, but he urged “other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact us”.
He added: “We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan.”
READ MORE: UK couple on cruise fear they tested positive
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 and Social Care spokesman said on Wednesday that those Britons repatriated from the Diamond Princess will be quarantined at accommodation at Arrowe Park on the Wirral on their return.
There were 78 British passengers on the cruise liner when cases of the coronavirus strain known as Covid-19 started to emerge.
Four British cases have since been confirmed by the Foreign Office.
It is understood only healthy passengers with no symptoms of the virus will have a seat on the plane, with all to spend 14 days at the Wirral.
Anyone who develops symptoms during the flight will be taken to hospital, while it is understood any pre-existing cases will be treated in Japan.
READ MORE: Praise for Scotland’s response to coronavirus outbreak
Meanwhile, the mayor of the South Korean city of Daegu has urged its 2.5 million people to avoid going outside as cases of coronavirus spiked, and pleaded for help from the central government.
Kwon Young-jin made the request in a televised news conference after the south-eastern city and nearby towns reported 35 additional cases of infection with Covid-19 on Thursday.
Mr Kwon also asked Daegu citizens to wear masks even indoors if possible. He expressed fears that the rising infections will soon overwhelm the city’s health infrastructure and called for urgent help from the central government in Seoul.
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