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| Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons home | Coronavirus: Foreign Office links up with airlines to fly stranded Britons home |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines. | Tens of thousands of Britons stranded abroad by the coronavirus pandemic will be flown home under a new arrangement between the government and airlines. |
| British Airways, Virgin, EasyJet, Jet2 and Titan are among airlines that have agreed to fly Britons back to the UK. | British Airways, Virgin, EasyJet, Jet2 and Titan are among airlines that have agreed to fly Britons back to the UK. |
| The government has also pledged £75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable. | The government has also pledged £75m to charter special flights to bring home UK nationals from countries where commercial flights are unavailable. |
| The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK has reached 1,408. | The number of people who have died with the virus in the UK has reached 1,408. |
| Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said an "unprecedented" number of UK travellers were trying to get home. | Speaking at the government's daily coronavirus briefing, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said an "unprecedented" number of UK travellers were trying to get home. |
| "We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people travelling around the world," he said. | "We are talking about hundreds of thousands of people travelling around the world," he said. |
| Mr Raab added: "Hundreds of thousands have already done so, but many travellers haven't yet managed to get back home - from young backpackers to retired couples on cruises." | Mr Raab added: "Hundreds of thousands have already done so, but many travellers haven't yet managed to get back home - from young backpackers to retired couples on cruises." |
| Under the new arrangement, airlines would be responsible for getting stranded passengers home where commercial routes remain an option. | |
| "That means offering alternative flights at little to no cost where routes have been cancelled, and it means allowing passengers to change tickets - including between carriers," he said. | |
| "So for those still in those countries where commercial options are still available: don't wait. Don't run the risk of getting stranded. The airlines are standing by to help you - please book your tickets as soon as possible." | |
| Later in the news briefing, the UK's chief scientific adviser said there were early signs that social distancing measures in the UK were "making a difference". | |
| Sir Patrick Vallance said people were heeding the advice to stay at home to keep the pressure off the NHS. | |
| As of 09:00 BST on Monday, 22,141 people in the UK have tested positive for coronavirus, while 112,805 have tested negative, according to the Department of Health. | |
| The latest UK deaths include a further 159 people in England, six in Scotland, 14 in Wales and one in Northern Ireland. |