This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/coronavirus-hundreds-stranded-wuhan-uk-evacuation-flight-delayed

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Coronavirus: hundreds stranded in Wuhan as UK evacuation flight delayed Coronavirus: delay to evacuation flight leaves Britons stuck in Wuhan
(32 minutes later)
Chinese authorities yet to give plane permission to leave region at centre of outbreak UK officials scramble to negotiate Chinese permission for hundreds of people to leave
Hundreds of Britons hoping to flee the Chinese region at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak have been left stranded after an emergency flight chartered by the government to take them home was delayed. Hundreds of Britons hoping to flee the Chinese region at the centre of the coronavirus outbreak have been left stranded after an emergency government-chartered flight to take them home was delayed.
A plane was due to leave locked-down Wuhan on Thursday morning, evacuating about 200 Britons to the UK where they would be quarantined for two weeks at a secure NHS facility. A plane was due to leave locked-down Wuhan on Thursday morning, evacuating about 200 Britons to the UK, where they would be quarantined for two weeks at a secure NHS facility.
But the plans were scuppered late on Wednesday as Chinese authorities had yet to grant the plane permission for takeoff, leaving British officials scrambling to negotiate.But the plans were scuppered late on Wednesday as Chinese authorities had yet to grant the plane permission for takeoff, leaving British officials scrambling to negotiate.
The death toll caused by the virus, which has spread to at least 16 countries, has reached 170 with 7,711 confirmed cases in China. The death toll of the virus, which has spread to at least 16 countries, has reached 170, and there are 7,711 confirmed cases in China.
Nick Gibb, the UK school standards minister, told Sky News: “There are some difficult issues that are being negotiated at very senior levels between the British government and the Chinese government. Our priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of British nationals in Wuhan and ensure they do return to the UK as soon as possible.”Nick Gibb, the UK school standards minister, told Sky News: “There are some difficult issues that are being negotiated at very senior levels between the British government and the Chinese government. Our priority is to ensure the safety and welfare of British nationals in Wuhan and ensure they do return to the UK as soon as possible.”
Gibb confirmed the plan was for them to be taken to an NHS facility on their return, where they would be kept for 14 days to make sure that they did not have symptoms of the virus. “It [the flight] is certainly coming to a military base in the UK and then the British nationals will go to the NHS facility for 14 days of quarantine,” he said. Gibb confirmed the plan was for them to be taken to an NHS facility on their return, where they would be kept for 14 days to make sure that they did not have symptoms of the virus. He said the flight was “certainly coming to a military base in the UK and then the British nationals will go to the NHS facility for 14 days of quarantine”.
Any passengers displaying symptoms of the virus – which include a sore throat, fever and breathing difficulties – will be barred from boarding the Uk-bound flight. Those that do make it onboard will have to sign contracts agreeing to the 14-day quarantine. Any passengers displaying symptoms of the virus – which include a sore throat, fever and breathing difficulties – will be barred from boarding the UK-bound flight. Those that do make it onboard will have to sign contracts agreeing to the 14-day quarantine.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are ongoing in response to controversy over the rights of British families including Chinese passport-holders to leave the country together. Dual nationals face being trapped in the Wuhan region. Diplomatic efforts are continuingover the efforts of British families including Chinese passport holders to leave the country together. Dual nationals face being trapped in the Wuhan region.
On Thursday the World Health Organization’s emergency committee will reconvene in Geneva to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency in response to the outbreak. The organisation said on Wednesday that “the whole world needs to be on alert”.On Thursday the World Health Organization’s emergency committee will reconvene in Geneva to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency in response to the outbreak. The organisation said on Wednesday that “the whole world needs to be on alert”.
The UK Foreign Office 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. We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible. We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels.”The UK Foreign Office 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. We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible. We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels.”