Currently, the USA has 15 confirmed cases of coronavirus – a number that will nearly double when the 14 new cases arrive on US soil.
Not all the Americans onboard the Diamond Princess chose to be evacuated.
Some of the Americans have declined the offer, choosing to wait until the ship quarantine comes to an end on February 19.
Passenger Matt Smith, a lawyer, tweeted his reasons for remaining on the ship, saying he would not want to travel on a bus to the plane with possibly infected people.
He wrote: “We would like to just finish the quarantine on the ship as planned, decompress in a non-quarantine environment in Japan for a few days, then fly back to the U.S. pursuant to our own arrangements. What’s wrong with that?”
The UK government confirmed today that it is looking getting the 78 British cruise passengers home.
An FCO spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “We sympathise with all those caught up in this extremely difficult situation.
“We are urgently considering all options to guarantee the health and safety of the British people on board the Diamond Princess, in line with the latest advice from the Chief Medical Officer and the World Health Organisation, and are working closely with the Japanese authorities and our international partners.
“Our staff in Tokyo, including the Ambassador, have been in regular contact with the British passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess and we have also been speaking to families in the UK.”