Trump ‘furious’ 14 coronavirus infected Americans flew back to US from Japan without his permission – The Sun

DONALD Trump was furious that 14 Americans with coronavirus were allowed to fly back to the US from Japan without his permission, officials have said.

The president was reportedly told that only those who had tested negative for the virus would be brought back on two flights organised this week.

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Around 400 US citizens were among the 3,700 passengers and crew on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship when ten cases of the coronavirus were confirmed and it was put in lock down over two weeks ago.

More than 620 people on the ship ultimately tested positive for the virus, at least 44 Americans among them.

Those who had tested positive were originally to remain overseas and in quarantine until they had recovered.

However, a decision was taken by the State Department and a US health official without the knowledge of the president that Americans who had tested positive but not showed any symptoms would be allowed to return, administration officials told the Washington Post.

The president reportedly only found out about the change after 14 people had returned and was furious that he had not been consulted.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, a State Department official said the operation to return the group was also being carried out when the positive tests became known.

VIRUS WILL 'MIRACULOUSLY GO AWAY'

Once back in the US, the group was moved into an isolation area, but the president was reportedly worried his administration could be blamed for any additional cases of coronavirus later diagnosed in the US.

At least 35 cases of coronavirus have so far been confirmed in the US.

Speaking to supporters at a rally last week, Trump said he expected the outbreak to resolve itself.

"The virus. They’re working hard," he said.

"Looks like by April, in theory, when it gets little warmer, it miraculously goes away.

"I think it’s going to work out fine.

"Rough stuff, I tell you, but I think it’s going to work out good."

'THEY DID THE RIGHT THING'

Dr. William Walters, executive director and managing director for operational medicine at the State Department's Bureau of Medical Services, told the Post she thought the decision to bring the group back had been the right one.

"I think the folks on the ground did just the right thing, by — out of an abundance of caution — moving those 14 people into an isolation area where they pose no threat to themselves or anyone else, to provide room for a robust inter-agency discussion between not just the Centers for Disease Control and state, but really the operational elements of Department of Health and Human Services," she said.

"At the end of the day, the State Department had a decision to make, informed by our inter-agency partners, and we went ahead and made that decision.

"And the decision, I think, was the right one in bringing those people home."

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