Coronavirus: First two UK cases confirmed

Two patients in England, who are members of the same family, have tested positive for coronavirus, Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty said.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jan 2020, 09:42 BST
Updated 31st Jan 2020, 17:07 BST
The accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside which is understood to be where the British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, will be quarantined after they arrive back into the UK on Friday. PA PhotoThe accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside which is understood to be where the British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, will be quarantined after they arrive back into the UK on Friday. PA Photo
The accommodation at Arrowe Park Hospital in Merseyside which is understood to be where the British nationals from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, will be quarantined after they arrive back into the UK on Friday. PA Photo

The news was revealed on Friday morning.

Meanwhile Virgin Atlantic has suspended its flights between Britain and China due to fears about the spread of the coronavirus.

The airline said in a statement it would suspend its daily operations between the UK and Shanghai for two weeks from Saturday.

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The decision came after the World Health Organisation on Thursday declared the coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency.

It also follows British Airways’ decision to suspend flights to and from China, which is in place until at least Monday.

An aircraft carrying 110 passengers, including 83 Britons, has left Wuhan for the UK following the coronavirus outbreak in the Chinese city, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said.

The plane, chartered by the FCO, is expected to land at the Brize Norton RAF base in Oxfordshire at 1pm.

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It is understood the British passengers will be taken to an NHS facility on the Wirral to be quarantined for 14 days.

“It’s welcome news that our evacuation flight has now left Wuhan,” Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.

“We know how distressing the situation has been for those waiting to leave. We have been working round the clock to clear the way for a safe departure. The welfare of those trapped and public safety have been our overriding priorities.”

After landing at Brize Norton, the chartered aircraft will continue to Spain, where the 27 non-British nationals on board will be processed by their EU home governments, the FCO said.

Related topics:Chris WhittyCoronavirusEnglandVirgin AtlanticWorld Health OrganisationSpainChinaDominic Raab