Fourteen people have been tested for the China coronavirus in the UK, according to Public Health England, amid increasing fears the virus may have already spread to Britain from China.

However, there are no confirmed cases of the disease, and the World Health Organisation says it is too early to declare an international public health emergency. While the risk to the public remains low, universities in the UK have followed Foreign Office advice warning people not to travel to the affected region.

According to figures from 2017-18, 4,940 Chinese students attend the University of Manchester, with some students expected to travel home for the Chinese New Year celebrations this weekend. Travel and safety advice is available on the university website.

The University of Chester has taken more drastic measures to ensure the coronavirus does not enter campus, informing students they will be held in quarantine when they return from China, and will not be readmitted before a suitable quarantine period.

Health secretary, Matt Hancock, told MPs that the NHS is “ready to respond appropriately” to any cases of coronavirus that emerge in the country.

In a statement to the Commons on Thursday, he said that while “there is an increased likelihood that cases may arise in this country, we are well prepared and well equipped to deal with them”.

To try and quarantine the virus, China suspended all flights, including international services, out of Wuhan city -- the epicentre of the virus outbreak -- on Wednesday night.

Globally, there are more than 800 confirmed cases of the virus, which has killed 26 people in China.

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