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| Coronavirus: BA suspends flights to and from mainland China | Coronavirus: BA suspends flights to and from mainland China |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak, the airline has said. | British Airways has suspended all direct flights to and from mainland China because of the coronavirus outbreak, the airline has said. |
| It comes after the UK Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to the country. | It comes after the UK Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to the country. |
| The virus has caused more than 100 deaths, spreading across China and to at least 16 other countries. | The virus has caused more than 100 deaths, spreading across China and to at least 16 other countries. |
| Hundreds of foreign nationals have been evacuated from the city of Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak. | Hundreds of foreign nationals have been evacuated from the city of Wuhan, the centre of the outbreak. |
| 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". | |
| A statement said: "We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority." | |
| The number of deaths from the virus has risen to 132 in China, the Chinese National Health Commission (NHC) said on Wednesday. | |
| An expert from the NHC said it could take 10 more days for the outbreak to peak. | |
| Like the similar Sars and influenza viruses, the new coronavirus is a particular risk for elderly people and those with pre-existing illnesses. | |
| The sharp rise in cases is in part attributed to increased awareness, monitoring and testing in recent days. | |
| The virus, which can cause severe acute respiratory infection, is thought to have emerged from illegally traded wildlife at a seafood market in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. | |
| There is no specific cure or vaccine. A number of people, however, have recovered after treatment. |