UPDATE:
JAPAN — Phil and Gay Courter, the Crystal River couple that was quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, is headed back to the United States.
The Courters boarded a charter flight to Travis Air Force Base in California Sunday. It is unclear whether the couple will stay in California or continue on to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The couple will undergo another two week quarantine period at one of the Air Force bases before being able to come home to Florida.
ORIGINAL STORY:
JAPAN — Phil and Gay Courter, the Crystal River couple quarantined aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan, may be headed back to the United States soon.
Beginning Sunday, the U.S. government plans to evacuate nearly 400 Americans currently quarantined aboard the ship. Any Americans not showing symptoms of the coronavirus will board a plane to Travis Air Force Base in California with some continuing on to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas to be quarantined.
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The Courters told ABC Action News they were tested for the coronavirus on Friday. They should get their results in a few days, but they say so far, they are still feeling healthy.
They put in their request with the U.S. Embassy Tokyo to participate in the evacuation, and are now packing their bags and preparing to head back to the U.S.
American passengers who test negative for the virus will be put on charter flights to the United States, ahead of another two week quarantine in America.
The captain aboard the Diamond Princess announced on the ship that the thousands of remaining passengers aboard will be tested for the virus on Tuesday.
Princess Cruises announced their crew will be quarantined as soon as the ship arrives at its destination, but they say their crew will be compensated and will receive two months of paid time off after they are quarantined.
The Japanese government will transfer any passengers who test positive for the virus to medical facilities in Japan.
The Courters are awaiting travel details as they prepare to head back to the United States.
We’re keeping in contact with them and will keep you updated on their status.
