STILL TRAPPED
A SMALL group of guests trapped in coronavirus-hit Tenerife have been pictured leaving their quarantined hotel in a minibus.
It is not yet clear where they were heading, as airline Jet2 refuses to fly any customers home.
Read our coronavirus live blog for all the latest news and updates.
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Half a dozen hotel guests, including families with small children, today underwent temperature scans before boarding a 15-seater minibus, a video shot by a hotel guest showed.
The tourists wore face masks and appeared to sign documents before boarding a van loaded with suitcases.
It is not yet known if the departing guests were British nationals.
The Canary Islands regional government cleared 130 guests, 50 of whom are British, to leave the 4-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife, which had been placed on lockdown after four cases of the coronavirus were detected.
In total, over 700 holidaymakers were in isolation at the hotel.
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It comes following airline Jet2's announcement that it will not fly any customers home until they’ve taken a swab test following two weeks spent in quarantine.
Up until now, people have only been swab-tested if they show symptoms of coronavirus, after recently returning from one of the countries where there has been an outbreak, including China, South Korea and northern Italy.
Some 168 Britons remain stuck in Tenerife after at least four hotel guests were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Jet2 has taken a strong stance against flying the travellers home, telling customers they can instead remain at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel for the whole of a two-week quarantine period.
If they test negative after the two week isolation, Jet2 will then allow them to fly home on one of its planes.
The Minister of Health in Tenerife said around 130 guests from 11 different countries would be able to leave the hotel if they arrived on Monday, after infected guests had already left.
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It's understood about 50 of those guests are Brits, however Jet2 is going against the Minister’s advice and refusing to fly anyone home.
Jet2 said: "We have asked all customers to remain in the hotel, which remains under quarantine.”
"We will not fly any customer who has stayed at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace during the quarantine, until this incubation period has passed or unless they have been explicitly tested for COVID-19 by a recognised authority and are confirmed as clear of the virus."
Some guests pleaded with PM Boris Johnson to order a rescue mission after they were told they were facing a two-week quarantine.
But an FCO spokeswoman said: "We're in touch with Spanish authorities but as far as we're aware there's no plans for a flight at the moment."
A later statement said: "We are urgently seeking clarification from the Canary Island authorities following their announcement that 130 tourists of different nationalities will be granted permission to leave the Costa Adeje Palace Hotel.
"We continue to offer support to all British nationals at the hotel."
We are urgently seeking clarification from the Canary Island authorities ... but as far as we're aware there's no plans for a flight at the moment
FCO spokeswoman
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Around 160 Brit holidaymakers were staying at the complex which is currently being patrolled by police.
The trapped holiday-goers have spent three days in isolation after coronavirus was detected there in four Italian tourists.
It is understood the Italian tourists were part of a group of ten holidaymakers and are now being treated at a local hospital in Candelaria.
The development comes after the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in Northern Ireland, as two further patients have been diagnosed in England.
That patient had travelled from northern Italy via Dublin.
It means 19 people have tested positive in the UK since the virus outbreak began in China in December.
Experts have warned of school closures and the cancellation of major sporting events, concerts and festivals in the UK in a bid to stop the spread of the virus.
Shoppers stocking up on food and water as coronavirus fever grips country
MOST READ IN NEWS
The Sun Online exclusively revealed that at least one Brit that has landed back in the UK is now being tested for the bug after suffering from symptoms.
The patient stayed at the hotel on Saturday night after the infected Italian guest arrived but left before any lockdown was put in place.
During the lockdown, masked tourists were seen enjoying champagne and sun loungers during their quarantine.
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