British tourists who were trapped in a Tenerife hotel by a coronavirus lockdown have been given hope of an early rescue.
Top-level talks are taking place between British diplomats and Spanish politicians and health chiefs with the aim of flying the stranded tourists home.
It comes as 130 guests were this afternoon allowed to leave the hotel.
The Foreign Office repatriation effort, revealed today, would bring holidaymakers home before the end of their 14-day quarantine period in 'safe flights' similar to those used to bring UK nationals back from China last month.
Julio Perez, a Canary Islands regional government spokesman, said discussions have been taking place in Tenerife and Madrid.
Frustrated holidaymakers begged Boris Johnson yesterday to rescue them from their forced stay at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel after four Italian guests tested positive for the virus.
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About 160 British nationals are among roughly 800 guests who have been isolated at the four-star hotel.
The Foreign Office had contacted UK nationals telling them their quarantine would last until March 10 – leading to fears they would be put at greater risk of catching the flu-like virus.
At a press conference today, Mr Perez said the remaining tourists would not yet be going home "because we can’t guarantee their active monitoring during their return to their home countries."
“But this morning our government authorities have had meeting with different consuls and in Madrid there’s been talks with ambassadors," he continued.
“If we can assure a transfer in such a way that we know that when they reach their home countries, their respective health authorities and epidemiology services can carry on conducting active monitoring, they could go if this is organised.
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“At the moment it’s safe for the 140-odd tourists who checked in after the people staying at the hotel who have tested positive."
More than 100 guests who checked in after the Italian guests were hospitalised have now been given the go-ahead to leave.
Regional Health Minister Teresa Cruz, added: “This morning at 9.30am a meeting took place with the different consulates affected and the Director of the Canarian Health Service.
“It appears that at that first meeting there was a good reaction from the respective embassies to repatriate their citizens.
“Today the Health Ministry has a meeting about the same subject, seeking the implication of the different embassies so they can get their citizens home if they feel it is appropriate."
The Foreign Office rushed to get UK citizens home from Wuhan, China last month, which has been at the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Two flights were chartered to RAF Brize Norton, with passengers quarantined for a period of two weeks after their repatriation.
It was not yet known if holidaymakers from Tenerife will be required to undergo the same isolation measures.
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