The New Zealanders in quarantine on board the cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, are being offered seats on a plane that's leaving Japan for Australia tomorrow but not all of them want to go.
A chartered Qantas flight will fly more than 200 Australians from Tokyo to Darwin with another two week quarantine awaiting them when they arrive back home.
The 11 New Zealanders still on board the ship will be offered places on the plane. Two other New Zealanders are in hospital in Japan with the virus.
Even though the passengers on the Diamond Princess have been in quarantine, that won't count once they get to Australia.
Auckland business owner Wren Manuel and his wife Kay have been on the Diamond Princess for 28 days and in quarantine for 13 of that.
RNZ spoke to Manuel last night just after they had learnt of the Australian offer.
He told Morning Report producer Kim Griggs they don't want to start their quarantine over again so they're not taking up the offer.
The Ministry of Health will give more detail about how New Zealanders who return after being on the Diamond Princess in Japan will complete their quarantine at its regular daily media conference this afternoon.
But in an email to passengers onboard the Diamond Princess MFAT says advice from epidemiologists sent to Japan by countries such as Australia is that "despite diligent efforts" there may be ongoing transmission of the virus on board the vessel and that means passengers "are at risk of infection whilst you remain on board".
The email also warns that for passengers who chose to remain on board, there might be border restrictions which could hinder attempts to get back into New Zealand.
It also says if passengers arrive back in New Zealand on other commercial flights within 14 days of leaving the ship they will be subject to health screenings and could end up in isolation.
