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Around 100 British nationals evacuated from the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak will be held in quarantine on Merseyside.

The flight, set to leave Wuhan city tonight, is expected to arrive at RAF airbase Brize Norton, in Oxfordshire, on Friday morning.

They will then be transported to a former student accommodation block on the grounds of Arrowe Park hospital.

The ECHO understands staff who live there were given 12 hours to move out.

They were told at around 4pm today to gather their belongings and exit the premises.

It is believed they are in the process of being offered alternative accommodation but it is not known where yet.

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Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Hospital, sent a message to staff this evening.

It says: “Dear colleagues, You will be aware of the current situation in Wuhan City, China and the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"While there are no confirmed cases in the UK, I am writing to you to inform you of some next steps.

"Around 100 British citizens will be travelling to the UK from China tomorrow.

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"As a precaution they will remain in isolation for 14 days following their arrival in the UK.

"We will be welcoming and housing them in the accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hosptial.

"Before arrival they will be screened for symptoms. If anyone becomes unwell after arrival they will be treated following appropriate protocols.”

The ECHO understands staff who live at the accommodation were given 12 hours to move out.

They were told at around 4pm today to gather their belongings and exit the premises.

It is believed they are in the process of being offered alternative accommodation but it is not known where yet.

(Image: AP)

They are then due to be held in quarantine for up to two weeks.

While they are being monitored they will have access to medical staff, and it is understood they will have the internet and be able to make contact with family.

The flight, which will have military medics on board, is due to leave Wuhan city at 5am local time on Friday morning, which is 9pm on Thursday evening UK time.

In a statement, Dominic Raab said: "We are pleased to have confirmation from the Chinese authorities that the evacuation flight from Wuhan airport to the UK can depart at 5am local time on Friday 31 January.

"The safety and security of British nationals is our top priority.

(Image: Getty Images)

"Our Embassy in Beijing and consular teams remain in close contact with British nationals in the region to ensure they have the latest information they need."

The flight comes as the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the "whole world needs to be on alert" over the new coronavirus outbreak.

The number of cases of coronavirus has jumped to 7,711, with 170 deaths.

Coronavirus: Department of Health advice About the virus



A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. Novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.



Advice for travellers from Wuhan



If you have returned from Wuhan in the last 14 days you are advised to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with other flu viruses. Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the city.



If you develop symptoms



If you develop a fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing, you should follow the advice above and are asked not to leave your home until you been given advice by a clinician.

India confirmed its first case on Thursday, as did the Philippines.

British Airways has extended its suspension of all flights to and from mainland China until Monday.

Virgin Atlantic flights between Heathrow and Shanghai are continuing to operate as scheduled.

(Image: Getty Images)

The Department of Health said that, as of Thursday, a total of 161 UK tests have concluded, of which 161 were confirmed negative and 0 positive.

There are currently no confirmed cases in the UK or of UK citizens abroad, and the risk to the public is low, the department stated on its website.

A statement added: "The government is monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work with the World Health Organization (WHO) and international community."

A Number 10 spokesman said: "I can confirm passengers will include around 50 foreign - mainly EU - nationals.

"Once the flight has landed in the UK to drop British nationals off - the flight will land in Brize Norton - British nationals will get off and the flight will continue on to Spain."

The spokesman added: "The plane was chartered from a Spanish company so it made sense for us and the Spanish government to allow EU nationals to return via Spain."

For more information on the coronavirus visit the government website.