Irish people living in China are being offered money to make videos to allay fears about Wuhan, the city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak.

A message online encourage foreign nationals in China to express their blessing to Wuhan in the videos, saying that the situation is "completely under control " and the country just has a "cold".

The message, which offers foreigners living in China €10 for making the video, suggests a general script where they would say their lives are "in great order".

"If they go to the supermarket there are abundant materials and you can buy everything," according to the script.

The message is appearing on jobs websites and also urges people to say: "If you cook at home, you can eat well."

The video would make no mention of the fact that Wuhan has been in lockdown for weeks, people are rarely venturing outside their homes and there are food shortages in supermarkets.

It comes as it emerged that two Irish passport holders who were passengers on the coronavirus-hit cruise ship the Diamond Princess are being treated at a hospital in Japan.

It is unclear if they have tested positive for the virus or are in hospital for monitoring and medical care.

The couple are understood to live in another European country.

Two other Irish people who are from county Meath remain on the ship and are likely to be offered transport on a rescue plane with a possible two week quarantine in the UK.

The Diamond Princess has been docked off the coast of Yokohama in Japan since February 3, with at least 542 passengers already struck down by the virus.

A further 88 people tested positive but the Japanese authorities and ship operators appear to be going ahead with ending the quarantine tomorrow.

Earlier Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Irish officials are also in contact with other Irish who were on another cruise ship the Westerdam which is docked in Cambodia after one of the passengers tested positive for the virus.

In all around ten Irish passport holders are caught up in the crisis between the two cruise ships.

He said: "We're working with Irish nationals on both of those ships to make sure they're safe. And if they're in quarantine to make sure those conditions are safe," he said.

The Westerdam luxury ship was allowed to dock in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, on Saturday and passengers were allowed disembark after one of them tested positive for the virus.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said Irish people were on the ship and foreign affairs officials are working to repatriate them.

"There is a second cruise ship off Cambodia, we're working with Irish nationals on both of those ships to make sure they're safe. And if they're in quarantine to make sure those conditions are safe," Mr Coveney said.

Meanwhile, two Irish people on the coronavirus-stricken cruise ship Diamond Princess, which is in quarantine off the coast of Japan, may be offered seats on a rescue flight which could bring them to the UK.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said: "We are aware of the developing situation and are liaising closely with other like-minded countries regarding the consular needs of our citizens."

However, if it is arranged and the Irish couple accept the transport they are likely to have to endure another two weeks isolation in the UK, or another country, before they are allowed to return home to Ireland.

There were reports yesterday that a hotel near Heathrow airport has been block booked by England's Department of Health with a view to using it as a reported yesterday to be in discussions with the UK government to deploy a Virgin Atlantic plan for repatriation.

No case of the virus has been diagnosed in Ireland.

However, scores of people have been tested for it as a precaution.

Irish Independent