US couple await evacuation from virus-hit ship

An American couple onboard a quarantined cruise ship docked in Japan said on Sunday they felt "compelled" to agree boarding a chartered flight back to the US, after official advice made them feel uncertain of their immediate future if they didn't.

The US has said Americans on the Diamond Princess ship - quarantined in response to the new virus originating in China - will be flown back home on a chartered flight Sunday, but would then face another two-week quarantine.

About 380 Americans are on the cruise ship, which docked at Yokohama, a port city southwest of Tokyo.

So far, 285 people from the ship have tested positive for the new virus, after 67 new cases were found Saturday.

The passengers have been quarantined on the ship since February 5.

That 14-day quarantine is due to end Wednesday.

A chartered aircraft will arrive in Japan late on Sunday and American passengers will be flown to Travis Air Force Base in California, with some continuing to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, the US Embassy in Tokyo said in a letter to passengers and crew that was posted online on Saturday.