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Coronavirus: Britons on Wuhan evacuation flight land in UK Coronavirus: Britons on Wuhan evacuation flight land in UK
(about 2 hours later)
A plane carrying 83 Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan - the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak - has landed in the UK.A plane carrying 83 Britons and 27 foreign nationals who were trapped in Wuhan - the Chinese city at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak - has landed in the UK.
Medics were also on the flight, which arrived at RAF Brize Norton at around 13:30 GMT.Medics were also on the flight, which arrived at RAF Brize Norton at around 13:30 GMT.
The UK passengers are being taken on coaches to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and quarantined for two weeks.The UK passengers are being taken on coaches to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and quarantined for two weeks.
It comes as the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the UK.It comes as the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in the UK.
The Department of Health said two members of the same family had tested positive for the virus in England. It is understood the patients were staying in a hotel in Yorkshire, before being taken overnight to a specialist centre in Newcastle.
The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak, which has caused 213 deaths in China and spread to 18 other countries.
The government initially estimated up to 150 Britons would be on the evacuation flight from Wuhan.
However, some UK citizens did not make the flight after being told family members with Chinese passports would be unable to join them.
That decision was reversed hours before the plane was due to depart, but it was too late for some to get to the airport.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told Sky News the government would send another plane to Wuhan to rescue British citizens if necessary.
The flight was delayed by around three hours to allow as many UK and EU citizens as possible to get to the airport on time, amid a suspension of the city's public transport.
The 27 foreign nationals on the plane - thought to be EU citizens - will fly on to Spain.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said all the Britons were screened before boarding the plane and were subject to continuous risk assessment during the flight.
"Everybody who has got on the plane is a well passenger," she said. "If any of those passengers do show symptoms there are set procedures to isolate them."
'Mellow' mood on flight'Mellow' mood on flight
Ben Williams, who had been in Wuhan getting married and on honeymoon, said he had to leave his new Chinese wife behind after being given short notice to get to the plane. Ben Williams had to leave his new Chinese wife behind after being given short notice to get to the evacuation plane.
He said: "By the time we got out the door it was very much a close call to get to the meeting point to get on this flight. The flight was delayed by around three hours to allow as many UK and EU citizens as possible to get to the airport on time amid a suspension of the city's public transport.
Mr Williams, who married his new wife in Wuhan and was honeymooning there, said: "By the time we got out the door it was very much a close call to get to the meeting point to get on this flight.
"Sadly, my wife has nothing prepared and it wasn't right for her to enter the UK with essentially nothing.""Sadly, my wife has nothing prepared and it wasn't right for her to enter the UK with essentially nothing."
Speaking from the plane after it touched down, he said: "We'll leave the plane one-by-one or in families for a full health screening and I believe just get on a coach to our final destination for our extended vacation." Speaking from the plane after it touched down, he said: "We'll leave the plane one by one or in families for a full health screening and, I believe, just get on a coach to our final destination for our extended vacation."
Asked about the mood on the flight he added: "It's quite mellow to be honest. Everyone's got quite used to wearing face masks and trying their best to do deep cleans."Asked about the mood on the flight he added: "It's quite mellow to be honest. Everyone's got quite used to wearing face masks and trying their best to do deep cleans."
The newlywed said he hoped he and his wife would be reunited in less than "a few months".The newlywed said he hoped he and his wife would be reunited in less than "a few months".
Patrick Graham, another British citizen evacuated from Wuhan, shared footage of the plane touching down at RAF Brize Norton.Patrick Graham, another British citizen evacuated from Wuhan, shared footage of the plane touching down at RAF Brize Norton.
He joked with his social media followers, "The infected are coming", before adding: "Thank you staff Wamosair for getting us home - they also have to go into a period of quarantine for bringing us home."He joked with his social media followers, "The infected are coming", before adding: "Thank you staff Wamosair for getting us home - they also have to go into a period of quarantine for bringing us home."
One UK citizen, trying to travel with his wife and one-month-old baby, said he did not make the flight because he could not find a car to take his family to the airport. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said all the Britons were screened before boarding the plane and were subject to continuous risk assessment during the flight.
Local police were unable to help, and although the UK Foreign Office arranged a car it did not arrive in time. "Everybody who has got on the plane is a well passenger," she said. "If any of those passengers do show symptoms there are set procedures to isolate them."
Adam Bridgeman told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I got a call saying there would be a flight leaving at 5am but we had to be at the airport at 1am," he said. The British passengers are being transported to an NHS staff accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hospital, where they will be put in "supported isolation" for 14 days with "all necessary medical attention".
"We thought we are probably not going to make it, we won't go, because going to the airport, getting on a plane with our newborn son, is in itself a kind of a risk." They will be housed in a separate building from the hospital wards, Wirral Council said.
The British nationals who have arrived in the UK will be transported to an NHS staff accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hospital. A spokesman added that services in the hospital will be running as usual and staff will be kept separate from the quarantined Britons.
They will be put in "supported isolation" for 14 days with "all necessary medical attention", a Downing Street spokesman said. But a group of local MPs have raised concerns about hospital staff and have asked the government for assurances on matters including safeguards and where the staff treating the patients will come from.
Wirral Council said it was a separate building from the wards, adding: "All services in the hospital are running as usual including emergency services, outpatients and planned surgery. Staff working in the hospital will not be in contact with these UK citizens." The private coach company transporting them said its drivers had agreed to take the job and will be given paid leave to "remain at home for the next 10 days".
The Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, located in the hospital, said hospital staff will not be in contact with people in isolation "at any time". Horseman Coaches added that its vehicles will be "deep cleaned" and then removed from service for a minimum of 10 days.
But a group of local MPs have raised concerns about hospital staff, and have asked the government for assurances on matters including safeguards and where the staff treating the patients will come from. Some UK citizens did not make the evacuation flight after being told family members with Chinese passports would be unable to join them.
That decision was reversed hours before the plane was due to depart, but it was too late for some to get to the airport.
Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove told Sky News the government would send another plane to Wuhan to rescue British citizens if necessary.
The remaining 27 foreign nationals on the plane - thought to be EU citizens - will continue on to Spain.
Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights to Shanghai for two weeks from 1 February, urging affected customers to contact them to receive a refund.Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic has suspended flights to Shanghai for two weeks from 1 February, urging affected customers to contact them to receive a refund.
It follows British Airways' decision to extend its cancellation of services to mainland China until 29 February.It follows British Airways' decision to extend its cancellation of services to mainland China until 29 February.
Most cases of coronavirus have emerged in people who have travelled from Wuhan. The World Health Organization has declared an international public health emergency over the outbreak, which has caused 213 deaths in China and spread to 18 other countries.
However, there have been eight cases of human-to-human infection - in Germany, Japan, Vietnam and the United States.
The new virus has now infected more people in China than fell ill during the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak. The number of cases has jumped to 9,962, country's National Health Commission said, surpassing the 5,327 people diagnosed with Sars.
However, the death toll is lower than the 348 people who died in China from Sars.
Learn more about the new virusLearn more about the new virus
Have you been affected by any of the issues raised? Do you know anybody onboard? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Have you been affected by any of the issues raised? Do you know anybody onboard? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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