Coronavirus: First British coronavirus death as man from Diamond Princess cruise ship dies

Four Britons from the ship remained in Japan after the rest were evacuated because they had contracted the coronavirus.

Diamond Princess cruise ship
Image: Passengers were in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship for a fortnight
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A British man aged in his 70s has died in Japan after being infected with coronavirus while in quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

The victim, who is the first UK fatality of the global outbreak, had been receiving treatment in hospital.

His death was confirmed by the Japanese health ministry and the UK's Foreign Office, but he has not been named.

Six people from the ship have now died, with the British man, who was not a resident of the UK, being the first foreign passenger to lose their life.

He was one of at least four Britons who had to remain in Japan after dozens more, who had tested negative for COVID-19, were evacuated to the UK last week following a fortnight in isolation on the coronavirus-stricken cruise liner which docked in Yokohama on 3 February.

A quarantine worker is among the 39 who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess
Image: Health officials at the scene in Yokohama

Two of the group to stay in Japan were David and Sally Abel, from Northamptonshire, who are still being treated for the virus in a Japanese hospital.

Neither of them is the person who has died.

More on Covid-19

A spokeswoman for Princess Cruises, which operates the Diamond Princess ship, said of the British death: "All of us at Princess Cruises, including the crew of Diamond Princess, offer our sincere condolences to family members and friends for their loss.

"Our dedicated care team are on hand to provide support."

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We are supporting the family of a British man who has died in Japan and are in contact with local authorities. Our sympathies and thoughts are with his family at this difficult time."

A relative of David and Sally Abel confirmed the couple were "doing well and fighting fit", adding: "They are getting stronger every day."

A total of 705 passengers and crew out of 3,711 onboard the Diamond Princess were confirmed as having COVID-19.

The Japanese government has been criticised for the way it handled the ship's isolation, with some doctors saying it acted like an incubator.

In the UK, 20 cases have now been confirmed, including one each in Northern Ireland and Wales.

David and Sally Abel have been quarantined on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. Pic: David Abel/Facebook
Image: David and Sally Abel remain in hospital after contracting COVID-19. Pic: David Abel/Facebook

In other coronavirus developments:

  • A total of 84,124 cases have been confirmed around the world, with 2,867 deaths
  • Mexico confirmed its first two coronavirus cases on Friday
  • Schools in the UK could be closed for more than two months if the outbreak intensifies, England's chief medical officer has said
  • Two Britons are among eight people being monitored on board a cruise ship that was turned back by the Dominican Republic
  • Some British tourists are being allowed to leave a Tenerife hotel on lockdown because of COVID-19 - but Jet2 says it will not fly them home until testing confirms they are not infected
  • EasyJet and the owner of British Airways are to cancel European flights as a result of the coronavirus crisis
  • World markets have tumbled, with the Dow Jones suffering its biggest one-day drop in its history
  • A spokesman for Iran's Health Ministry says 34 people have been killed by COVID-19 in the country and 388 people have been infected
  • The number of coronavirus cases in South Korea has exceeded 2,000 after 256 new diagnoses were confirmed
  • The sharp downwards trend of new COVID-19 cases has continued in China, where there were 327 new cases and 44 deaths on Thursday
  • The Japanese island of Hokkaido is declaring a state of emergency after a rapid increase in cases. The governor has urged residents to stay at home this weekend