British citizens from coronavirus-hit Wuhan to be quarantined in North West on return

The 200 British citizens being flown out of Wuhan after the outbreak of coronavirus will be quarantined here in the North West.

The government plans to bring them back on Friday, housing them in quarantine in the region.

According to ITV news, the flight – which hasn’t officially been given permission to leave by Chinese authorities yet – might land at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

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After landing, the passengers would then travel to an NHS facility in the North West for a period of 14 days, sources have told PA.

The UK government is still negotiating with China to get permission for a flight out of Wuhan containing British citizens, after one was stopped from leaving on Thursday.

Downing Street says they’re working ‘urgently’ with Chinese authorities to make sure Britons can get back to the UK as soon as possible.

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The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK. A number of countries’ flights have been unable to take off as planned including the British repatriation from Wuhan.

“We are working urgently with the Chinese authorities to ensure that the flight can take off as soon as possible.”

The reason for the holdup is because the UK doesn’t have ‘necessary clearances’, but the PM’s spokesman said they’re ‘working with the Chinese authorities on securing those’.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation emergency committee is expected to declare an international public health emergency during its meeting today.