All but one of the nine patients in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus have been discharged from hospital, the NHS has confirmed.

NHS England and NHS Improvement said that eight people who tested positive for COVID-19 - the disease caused by coronavirus - had left hospital following two negative tests.

All 94 people who were being held in quarantine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside have also now left the hospital, they added.

They were kept at the facility for two weeks after returning to the UK on a flight from China - the centre of the outbreak.

More than 100 people remain at the Kents Hill Park Hotel, in Milton Keynes.


Professor Keith Willett, NHS strategic incident director, said: "The last guests have left Arrowe Park hospital and I would once again like to thank them for the calm, patient and responsible way that they have responded to what must have been a trying situation.

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"Over the coming weeks many more of us may need to spend time at home to reduce the spread of the virus and they have set a great example.

"I would like to thank all those NHS staff and partners, as well as Public Health England, who have worked so hard to make their stay as comfortable as possible, those still caring for guests in Milton Keynes and all the doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals who have successfully treated patients at other hospitals.

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"We must not forget the local residents, council staff, volunteers and numerous others who have rallied round to help our guests in their time of need. Thank you all."

It comes after the first death from the virus was confirmed in France, where a Chinese tourist died in hospital in Paris.

The 80-year-old man was one of 12 cases in France, which include six British nationals who caught the virus from "superspreader" Steve Walsh.

Image: British nationals were taken by bus from Oxfordshire to Merseyside to be put in quarantine

Businessman Mr Walsh contracted the virus in Singapore while at a business conference before going to the French Alps for a ski holiday, then returning to his home in Hove, East Sussex.

He unwittingly infected 12 Britons who were in France with him. As well as the six who are in France, one is in Majorca and five are now in the UK.

Image: Five British nationals caught the virus at a chalet in the ski resort of Contamines-Montjoie

In a statement, the group of five who were treated at the Royal Free Hospital and St Thomas' Hospital in London, said: "All of our group, including the six (later confirmed to be seven) in other countries, have recovered quickly from the virus having required minimal medical treatment during our time in isolation.

"We understand the virus can be dangerous for some, but we also want to share the important facts of our situation to help reassure people."

Meanwhile health officials have contacted more than 200 people who attended a bus conference in the UK after it emerged one delegate was suffering from coronavirus.

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The case is not believed to be linked to the UK's ninth case of coronavirus who took an Uber to A&E after she developed symptoms.

Two staff from Lewisham Hospital in south London are now in isolation at home after coming into contact with the woman.

The total number of confirmed cases globally now stands at more than 67,000.