Coronavirus news – live: Outbreak overtakes SARS for confirmed cases as Britons arriving from Wuhan to be quarantined for two weeks
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Japan and the US have airlifted hundreds of their citizens from the virus-hit Chinese city of Wuhan as the death toll from the coronavirus outbreak rose again to 132.
Some 201 US citizens were airlifted to southern California where they will remain under medical observation.
However the UK government has said it will not be launching an evacuation of its citizens anytime soon. It is understood China has not granted the necessary permissions to allow for the removal of British nationals on Thursday.
Confirmed cases of the virus also rose sharply to more than 6,000 on Wednesday, overtaking the 5,327 confirmed cases of SARS during the same time period in the 2002-2003 outbreak which killed more than 750 people in 17 countries worldwide.
Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it would reconvene officials to decide whether the outbreak constituted an emergency of international concern.
Here are the days events as they happened...
Indonesia’s Lion Air has joined BA by suspending flights to China over the coronavirus outbreak.
Chinese national football team quarantined in Australia
The Chinese women’s national football team has been quarantined in Australia over concerns about the spread of coronavirus, according to health officials.
Jeannette Young, Queensland state’s chief health officer, said the group of 32 people had travelled through Wuhan a week ago and would be kept in isolation in a Brisbane hotel until next Wednesday.
The group, which includes players and staff, were placed in isolation by border officials after arriving in Brisbane on a flight from Shanghai on Tuesday.
They are travelling with a team doctor and no-one has shown symptoms so far.
Virgin Atlantic has said it is continuing to operate its daily flights between Heathrow and Shanghai after a number of airlines said they were suspending travel to China.
“We continue to monitor the situation regarding coronavirus and will always follow guidance as set out by relevant authorities,” a spokesperson said.
“The Foreign & Commonwealth Office is advising against all but essential travel to mainland China, excluding Hong Kong.”
Our travel correspondent Simon Calder has some more details on the impact of the Foreign Office’s advice to avoid “all but essential travel” to China.
“The Independent's travel desk calculates from holiday patterns and flight data that there are 10,000 UK travellers in mainland China - together with a similar number who are in Hong Kong, which is unaffected by the new Foreign Office advice.
“In addition, thousands of long-stay British expatriates are in the People's Republic as students, staff of multinational companies and teachers of English.”
The estimate comes as a number of airlines have announced this morning that they are suspending flights to China over the coronavirus outbreak.
The British Airways flight 38 from Beijing and BA168 from Shanghai, which will touch down at Heathrow just after 3pm, will be the last British Airways flights from the two Chinese cities for an indefinite time.
Papua New Guinea has announced that all travellers from Asia will not be allowed into the country over fears of a coronavirus outbreak, according to the BBC’s Stephen McDonell.
The move is one of the strictest measures yet by a country to stop the spread of the virus.
Travel expert warns ‘lack of clear information’ on flight suspensions could cause distress
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, has warned that a “lack of clear information” from British Airways on its decision to suspend flights to China could cause distress to passengers.
“British Airways' decision to cancel flights to and from China is understandable following the Foreign Office travel warning,” Mr Boland said.
“These passengers will be worried that they are now stranded. BA and the Foreign Office must urgently clarify what options it can provide to customers - particularly those already in China - so they can amend their plans accordingly and get home.”
Kazakhstan suspends transport links with China over outbreak
Kazakhstan’s government has announced it will suspend all forms of travel to and from neighbouring China over concerns about the spread of coronavirus.
The government has also suspended the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, it said in a statement.
BREAKING: British nationals who are set to be evacuated from Wuhan will be quarantined for up to 14 days after arriving back in the UK, health officials have said.
Our health correspondent Shaun Lintern has more details on the story below:
India’s Press Information Bureau (PIB) has recommended “homeopathy” for the prevention of coronavirus.
“The outbreak of a mysterious new CoronaVirus is rapidly spreading,” a PIB statement said.
“The whole world is going through the fear of this Corona Virus, the Research Councils under the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India have issued advisory based on the Indian traditional medicine practices Ayurveda, Homeopathy and Unani.”
Matt Hancock confirms Britons from Wuhan will be quarantined
Health secretary Matt Hancock has confirmed plans to place British nationals arriving from Wuhan in quarantine for two weeks.
His statement came as a government source told PA that Britons will likely be kept at a “military base”.
“We have got the facility ready for them to arrive,” the source said.
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