A rescue flight for British passengers quarantined on Diamond Princess is due to take off from Tokyo on Friday, as two passengers on board the ship who contracted the virus have reportedly died.

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab said that Britons on the ship should get in touch with the British embassy in Tokyo.

Only people who are showing no signs of illness will be able to travel, and they will be quarantined for a further two weeks on their return to the UK.

Those who have tested positive will remain in Japan for treatment.

Raab said: “We’ve organised an evacuation flight for British nationals on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship to depart Tokyo on Friday.

“Details have been sent to those who have registered for the flight. We urge other British nationals still seeking to leave to contact us.

“We will continue to support British nationals who wish to stay in Japan.”

The Foreign Office said that British nationals can contact the British Embassy Tokyo on +81 3 5211 1100 and select the option for consular assistance.

The development came as it was reported that two passengers who had been on the ship died after contracting the virus. According to Japanese broadcaster NHK, the passengers, who were in their eighties, had underlying health conditions.

To date, more than 620 people on board Diamond Princess have contracted the virus, including four from the UK.

Yesterday (19 February), the two-week quarantine ended and passengers were being cleared to leave the ship.

A Princess Cruises spokesperson said: “Approximately six hundred guests on board Diamond Princess were the first to be cleared by the Japanese Ministry of Health and released to disembark the ship yesterday.

“These guests – all being cleared after a COVID-19 test by the Japanese Ministry of Health – were met in the Yokohama cruise terminal by Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises.

“Several hundred other guests are expected to be cleared today by health officials.”

For more information on Diamond Princess, visit princess.com.