VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED
Coronavirus cruise crew beg to be let off saying ‘we’ll ALL be infected’ after 9 days trapped on Diamond Princess
DESPERATE crew on a quarantined cruise liner are begging to be allowed off before they are all infected with coronavirus.
Another 39 cases were confirmed today on board the Diamond Princess - including the ship's officer in charge of quarantine - bringing the total to 175.
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Around 2,500 passengers on the UK-flagged luxury liner have been confined to their cabins since it docked in Yokohama, Japan, on February 3.
But the 1,100 crew have been working throughout - delivering food and other supplies to the trapped holidaymakers.
One crew member, Binay Kumar Sarkar, posted a video on Facebook showing him standing in the ship's kitchen with five others in face masks.
He pleaded with the Indian government to evacuate 160 of its citizens who work on board before it is too late.
Binay said: "Day by day this virus is increasing.
"If our uninfected people will be separated from Diamond Princess cruise they may survive.
"Request to India government to rescue total 160 Indian crew from ship. Please share this video. Please, please."
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A third Briton was reported among the 39 new coronavirus cases confirmed today.
There were also a number of Americans, adding to the 24 already infected out of 428 on board.
Ten crew also tested positive, including the quarantine officer who had been handing out questionnaires to passengers and checking their health.
Japan's health ministry said he had been following rules that require the wearing of a mask and gloves but not a full protective suit.
The ship is under quarantine after an elderly passenger was found to have the virus after he disembarked in Hong Kong in January.
The isolation will last at least until February 19 - although could be extended as authorities test hundreds more people who may have had contact with known patients.
Those who have tested positive have been taken off to be monitored in hospital.
The first Briton diagnosed on board - honeymooner Alan Steele, 58 - said today he has recovered and a swab came back negative for the virus.
He said on Facebook: "Just received great news... my test showed negative to virus and have now been swabbed for 2nd test. If that comes back negative I get released."
His wife Wendy is still on board.
Another Brit on board, David Abel, has compared conditions to a "floating prison" said "depression is starting to set in".
He said: "Lots of the passengers now are getting a bit of cabin fever."
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David, celebrating his golden anniversary with wife Sally, told Sky News: "We are now into the second week, it seems an eternity to go.
"Passengers are now getting tested, that's why we are seeing the results now on a daily basis, so it is getting people's moods down.
"One of the passengers in the night was keeping other passengers awake, an old lady who was crying for a couple of hours in her cabin."
Emergency medical supplies have been delivered to 600 passengers who needed drugs.
Those in windowless internal cabins are being allowed out for fresh air on deck in shifts, but must wear masks and rubber gloves.
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The cruise ship captain told passengers there is no danger of catching the virus from the ventilation system and they are getting "100 per cent fresh air".
The virus - officially named Covid-19 - has killed more than 1,100 people and infected 45,000, mostly in China where the outbreak started.
Health chiefs today warned it poses a bigger global threat than terrorism and could kill 45million people worldwide.
In Britain, an infected A&E worker in Worthing is among eight patients so far diagnosed with coronavirus.
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Honeymoon Brit confirmed as testing positive for Coronavirus on board Diamond Princess in Japan
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