Coronavirus: Cases double globally every five days as UK invests in search for new vaccine
Britain has 50 specialist beds and 500 more potentially to isolate victims, says health secretary
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A British man who flew home from China suffering from coronavirus-like symptoms is expecting to receive results within hours telling him whether he has the illness.
Anthony May-Smith, who was put into isolation after landing, said later he felt fine.
The total number of deaths from the epidemic in China has risen to 362, with new infections in China increasing by 2,829 on Sunday, bringing the total to 17,205.
At least another 171 cases – including two in Britain – have been reported in countries including Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Russia, Spain and Thailand.
The number of cases of the virus worldwide is doubling roughly every five days, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, revealed.
It came as Chinese scientists revealed they had uncovered fresh evidence that the novel coronavirus had originated in bats.
Please see below for what was our live coverage.
Charter flights to Russia could be suspended
Russian deputy prime minister says charter flights bringing Russian citizens home from China could be suspended on 14 February over coronavirus fears
'Good communication' between China and Taiwan
China has told the World Health Organisation (WHO) that it shared full information on coronavirus with authorities in Taiwan, where there have been 10 confirmed cases, and that channels of communication across the straits were "unblocked".
The Beijing government is sincere in resolving Taiwan's concerns about the virus and "measures taken are positive", China's delegate Li Song told the WHO's executive board in Geneva.
But Mr Li denounced what he called Taiwan’s authorities’ "lies and excuses" related to its inability to attend WHO meetings, where the island regarded by Beijing as a renegade province is represented by the mainland under WHO rules.
Earlier, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said China was using "the right strategy" to combat the virus, but did not refer to the Taiwan controversy.
He said: "It is time (for the world) to prepare based on the opportunity created now, which is low spread or slow spread" abroad.”
Foreign Office 'withheld baby's birth certificate'
A British father currently being quarantined at Arrowe Park hospital in Merseyside with his wife and newborn son claims a Foreign Office official withheld his son's birth certificate from the Chinese authorities to allow him to leave the country.
Michael Martin, a British citizen, was initially told he would not be able to bring his wife and son back to the UK, as they are Chinese citizens.
The rules changed hours before the flight - however, his son did not have a passport, and they instead presented his birth certificate to Foreign Office officials before being allowed into the airport.
Mr Martin, who has lived in Wuhan for nine years, said: "I was later told one of the officers held back my son's birth certificate in case the Chinese officers wouldn't accept it. I am so thankful for this quick thinking."
After entering the airport, his son was given an emergency passport and they were eventually allowed to board the plane.
The family were among the 83 evacuees flown to the UK from the Chinese city on Friday.
Bucking the trend of countries shutting down travel to and from China, Pakistan has resumed flights after a three-day suspension.
China and Pakistan are close allies, and mutual travel and investment has increased sharply in recent years.
A China Southern Airlines flight of 145 passengers was due to arrive in Islamabad later on Monday.
Passengers will be "carefully scrutinised", officials said.
No plans to cancel or postpone Tokyo Olympics
Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe has brushed aside worries about the impact of the coronavirus on this year's Tokyo Olympics.
He said: "We will respond appropriately, while closely cooperating with the World Health Organisation and other international organisations so we can proceed with the preparations without letting it affect the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics."
Japan has not reported any fatalities from the outbreak.
Tokyo organisers and the International Olympic Committee have said there are no plans to cancel or postpone the Olympics, due to open on 24 July.
China’s acting ambassador to Israel has compared the entry bans on Chinese citizens to some countries amid the ongoing coronavirus outbreak to the Holocaust, prompting an apology from the Chinese embassy, writes Kate Ng.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv, Dai Yuming told reporters that the “errors to limit or even ban entries of Chinese citizens” reminded him of “the old days, the old stories that happened in World War Two, the Holocaust, the darkest days in human history”.
Department of Health update
Government officials have released their latest update.
"As of 3 February, a total of 326 UK tests have concluded, of which 324 were confirmed negative and 2 positive," the Department of Health said.
More flights suspended
Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have both suspended flights to China until the end of the month.
Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is to give a statement to the Commons at 4.15pm on coronavirus.
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