UK confirms third case of coronavirus

A further patient has tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, bringing the total number of cases in the country to three, England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty confirmed on Thursday.

"The individual did not acquire this in the UK," Professor Whitty said adding that the patient is being transferred to a specialist NHS centre and the health department is "using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus".

The first coronavirus cases in the UK were reported in two patients from the same family on January 31.

Some 83 British citizens returned from Wuhan on a UK government-chartered flight to Brize Norton on last Friday and a "second and final" flight is scheduled to take off on Sunday.