CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — UPDATE: Phil and Gay Courter landed early Monday morning at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas, after a direct flight from Tokyo.
The Citrus County couple had been quarantined on a cruise ship because of a coronavirus outbreak. They had been quarantined on the ship since Feb. 4.
Now that they are back in the U.S., the two will spend 14 days in quarantine at Lackland Air Force Base.
“We are happy and grateful to be back in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Although we wish we could be home with our friends and family, we understand that we may have been infected. The burden of proof is on health officials to show that we can be safely released," Gay said in a release.
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The married Tampa Bay couple quarantined on a cruise ship because of a coronavirus outbreak is heading back to the United States.
Phil and Gay Courter have been quarantined on the Princess Diamond since Feb. 4. Once they get back to the U.S., they will be quarantined for 14 days.
The U.S. Embassy said the American passengers heading home have been screened.
Gay said the ride on the way to the flight back was silent with no chatter.
“Clearing my throat sounds like thunder,” she said.
Right now, it’s not clear if the Courters will be flown back to Texas or California for their U.S. quarantine.
Health officials said almost 400 people on board the Princess Diamond have been diagnosed with the coronavirus.
Gay is a best-selling author and Phil Is an award-winning documentary filmmaker. The two live in Crystal River, Florida.
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