The patient, understood to be a woman, contracted the illness in China but was diagnosed after flying into a London airport, making it the first instance of coronavirus in the capital.

Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty “One further patient in England has tested positive for novel coronavirus (COVID-19), bringing the total number of cases in the UK to nine. This virus was passed on in China and the patient has now been transferred to a specialist NHS centre at Guy’s and St Thomas’ in London.”