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Brit couple on cruise ship do NOT have coronavirus and blame ‘communication error’ for thinking they tested positive
A British couple who thought they contracted Coronavirus on a quarantined cruise ship have blamed the false alarm on a "massive communication error".
David Abel and his wife Sally believed they had been told they tested positive for the virus - but now think they don't have it.
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The couple now think they are waiting to be transferred to a hostel, blaming the confusion on language difficulties between staff and passengers.
In David's latest Facebook post, he said: “Sally & I packed and waited 8 hours in the cabin to be transported to a hostel.
“We are still on the ship! They do NOT send folk with the virus to a hostel!!”
"Massive communication error yesterday.
"The Japanese quarantine officials to not speak any English.
"They came to our door & 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 4 or 5 days. You would not say that to a virus victim.
"The consulate in Tokyo are being very good with me. I am being listened to and Sally & I feel really well.
"I will get more info out when I know what’s happening. Thank you for your love and concern."
The news follows David claiming that he and his wife had both tested positive for Coronavirus on Tuesday morning.
'Quarantine Failure'
The couple are among 74 British passengers on-board the Diamond Princess, where more than 500 people have already caught the illness.
David has spent the last two weeks begging the UK government to take action and rescue British nationals on board in his daily social media posts.
The couple son's Steven has told This Morning that the "quarantine has been a failure" after his parents were struck down with the bug in the last 24 hours.
He said: "All I want now is for the UK authorities to still go and get them.
"I know they have tested positive but whatever they are doing in Japan...why can't that happen here in the UK."
Steven said that when he FaceTimed his parents today he was unable to speak to his dad David because he was vomiting.
He said his father has ";underlying health problems" including type-2 diabetic for which he is insulin-dependent.
Steven, who was speaking via video-link from Salford, Greater Manchester, said David has a tooth infection which combined with his diabetes could be more serious than the virus itself.
With only a day left of their 14-day isolation on board the ship, and after saying he'd “never felt less loved by my own country", the David and Sally have been struck down by the killer bug.
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Writing on Facebook today, David said: "There is going to be a time of quiet. We have been proved positive and leaving for hospital soon. Blessings all xxx"
And he later said they weren't going to hospital - but were being taken instead to a hostel to be isolated.
He wrote: "That’s where partners are sent waiting out their quarantine. No phone, no wi-fi and no medical facilities."
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