More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A grandmother from Dartford celebrating her 70th birthday on board a coronavirus-hit cruise ship will be flown home.
American authorities have arranged a repatriation flight for the 140 Brits on board the Grand Princess, which has been kept off the coast of California for days after 21 passengers tested positive.
Speaking to KentOnline Jackie Bissell said she was desperate to come home and get off the ship.
She urged the government to do more to bring the affected Brits on board the liner home.
The Foreign Office says the plane bringing them home will land in the UK on Wednesday.
Jackie said conditions on board the vessel were not very pleasant and they have been quarantined to their cabin which only has a small window that does not open.
The grandmother-of-three, who is sharing the small room with her friend, said: "We just want to come home, it's not very pleasant in here.
"What they are saying now is we could be in her for days; it could take days for us to get out.
"We have had no fresh air, we are allowed in the corridor to get our food."
A Princess Cruises spokesperson said that guests were due to disembark on Monday, and that prior to that guests were receiving meals by room service and given additional TV and movie options, together with complimentary internet service.
They added that staff would never discriminate against any passengers and the crew was actively working around the clock to care for guests.
The latest figures released by Public Health England on Sunday showed there were six confirmed cases in Kent – including two in Medway which triggered a Chatham school to close for a deep clean this morning.
Today a school in Ashford confirmed one of its pupils had the virus. It is not clear if they are among the six confirmed cases.
KMTV report on one of Kent's latest cases
Coronavirus: Everything You Need To Know
