A person walks down the steps of an aircraft repatriating British nationals to the UK (Picture: PA)

A Belgian woman who flew back from China on the same plane as Britons has tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Belgium’s health agency said the woman was one of nine Belgians on board the flight back to France, which carried passengers from 30 other countries.

There were 11 UK citizens and family members on the flight evacuating people from the disease epicentre of Wuhan.

They were then flown on to RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.


Busses which carried passengers from China leave Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral (Picture: Reuters)

Ten were then taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral for a 13-day period of isolation, while Anthony May-Smith was taken to hospital to be tested for potential coronavirus.



Nick Phin, National Infection Service deputy director at Public Health England, said: ‘Public Health England has been notified that a Belgian national who shared a flight with repatriated British Nationals has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

‘All of the individuals who were on this flight are currently in supervised isolation and are being monitored for symptoms.’

There have been two confirmed cases of the new disease in the UK so far, both from the same family.

Police officers patrol the quarantined area outside Arrowe Park Hospital in Wirral (Picture: Reuters)

One of them is a student at the University of York, and had returned to his student accommodation for a night before being treated.

The university said he did not come into contact with other students or use communal areas.

Foreign Office travel advice now warns against all but essential travel to mainland China as the death toll from the virus soars.

Travel advice has now changed with the UK government warning: ‘If you’re in China and able to leave, you should do so.’

The death toll stands at 425 with over 20,000 people infected.

At the weekend, the UK government removed all but essential diplomatic staff from its missions in China.