LONDON - Hundreds of British citizens being flown back to the UK from Wuhan tomorrow will be put in quarantine for two weeks.
It comes as British Airways suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Australia, Japan, the US and the EU are also repatriating citizens.
The virus has caused more than 100 deaths, spreading across China and to at least 16 other countries.
The UK government is arranging to evacuate Britons from Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province, with up to 300 British people thought to be in the area.
Australia plans to quarantine its 600 returning citizens for two weeks on Christmas Island - some 2,000km (1,200 miles) from the mainland.
Japan, the US and other EU countries are also repatriating their citizens.
British Airways, which operates daily flights to Shanghai and Beijing from Heathrow, announced the suspension of flights to and from mainland China "with immediate effect" until 31 January while it assesses the situation.
A statement said: "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority."
Other airlines, including United Airlines, Air Canada and Cathay Pacific Airways, have already cancelled some flights to China.(FA)
