YOKOHAMA, JAPAN (WTWO/WAWV) – A Vincennes couple quarantined aboard the cruise ship docked off the coast of Japan because of a coronavirus outbreak plan to be on a plane soon heading for the United States.
Linda Levell said Saturday afternoon via text message that she and her husband Jim are “grateful to come back to the USA.”
WTWO/WAWV reported previously that the couple were aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship for their 50th wedding anniversary; however, they along with the other passengers have been under quarantine since Feb. 4 amid the concerns about the spread of the virus.
In an email to Americans on board the ship, the U.S. embassy in Tokyo wrote that a voluntary evacuation was taking place Sunday, Feb. 16 and those showing no symptoms of the virus will leave on a charter plane.
Levell sent a message to WTWO/WAWV on Saturday afternoon saying she and her husband plan to be part of that group that leaves on the charter plane.
“Yes!!! We will be in it,” she wrote in response to questions about their status and if they plan to leave on the plane. “We are just beyond grateful to come back to the USA. We will quarantine again, if that’s what we need to do. We want to keep everyone else safe also.”
Those who return to the United States will be quarantined for another 14 days, according to an emailed letter to Americans on the ship.
