A China Travel Ban Could Be Introduced Within Weeks Because The Coronavirus Outbreak Appears To Be Getting Worse And The Government Will Be Forced To Act MPs Believe

A China travel ban could be introduced within weeks because the coronavirus outbreak appears to be getting worse and the government will be forced to act, MPs believe. 
A source who sits on the All Party Parliamentary China Group, set up to strengthen China-UK relations, said they would be surprised if the travel restriction was not imposed 'in the next week or two' amid calls for the government to step up its efforts to protect the UK against the killer disease. 
If introduced a ban would likely apply to foreign nationals who have visited China in the last 14 days - something 16 countries including the US, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have already imposed.

Even Saudi Arabia and Iraq have introduced the ban before Britain.
Virologist Professor Ian Jones, from the University of Reading, welcomed the move, saying it was a 'simple' and 'proactive' measure that could delay more cases on home soil.
And leading scientists - speaking at a hastily organised meeting by the respected Science Media Centre in London today - said travel restrictions could buy the UK valuable time to develop a vaccine.
It comes amid backlash at the Government's 'weak' response to the outbreak. Last night it issued 'updated travel advice' - which simply warned travellers from nine Asian countries 'to phone NHS 111 and quarantine themselves' if they feel ill.

Ministers announced the advice after a businessman who had not visited mainland China was confirmed to be the third case of the coronavirus in the UK.  
The patient - thought to be in his 40s or 50s - attended a business conference in Singapore organised by a UK company called Servomex, which describes itself as a 'provider of reliable, accurate and stable gas measurements' and is based near Brighton. 
Health bosses have now launched a frantic but farcical hunt for anyone who spent more than 15 minutes with the middle-aged man - despite not quarantining his own family.

Furious Brits have slammed the 'weak' measures to prevent more cases in the UK, urging ministers to shut the border and saying 'serious guidance is needed'. Others have questioned if it's time to start wearing face masks. 
It comes after British honeymooner Alan Steele, from Wolverhampton, became the second confirmed UK national to be diagnosed with the lethal disease after catching it on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan. Mr Steele was hauled off the Diamond Princess cruise liner and separated from his wife Wendy at Yokohama Bay this morning before being whisked into quarantine after testing positive for corona despite not yet showing any symptoms.
Almost 640 people have died from the coronavirus, which can be spread through coughs, sneezes and touching contaminated surfaces.

Figures also show more than 31,000 cases have been recorded in 28 countries and territories around the world. 
The Department of Health today refused to comment on the travel ban. 
In other developments to the escalating outbreak today: 
British tourist Alan Steele , from Wolverhampton, was hauled off a cruise liner and taken to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus on his honeymoon in Japan Officials have launched a frantic appeal for anyone who has spent 15 minutes with Britain's third coronavirus patient - but won't reveal who he isAuthorities say the British victim caught the deadly virus at a business conference while staying in a £1,000-a-night five-star hotel in SingaporeLocal media reports the conference was held by a British-based company which provides 'stable gas measurements'China's central government has ordered Wuhan - the outbreak's epicentre - to round up all suspected patients as well as their close contacts in mass quarantine campsWuhan officials are now carrying out door-to-door health checks to identify potential carriers who would need to be isolated The UK's third coronavirus patient went to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton on Sunday night after suffering from flu-like symptoms before being rushed to Guy's Hospital in London. It comes almost a week after two Chinese nationals, a University of York student and his mother, were confirmed to have the lethal virus and they have been quarantined at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.

Meanwhile 93 others are quarantined on the Wirral after being evacuated from Wuhan - while another among them was rushed to a hospital in Oxford
Saudi Arabia yesterday became the 16th nation to ban travellers from coronavirus-hit China from entering the country.

A total of 31 countries have grounded planes to and from mainland China, to varying degrees
People in Hong Kong line up outside a pharmacy to buy surgical masks which are in shortage in the city
British honeymooner Alan Steel, from Wolverhampton, http://travelmic.website2.me/blog/top-10-historical-places-in-india became the second confirmed UK national to be diagnosed with the lethal disease after catching it on a cruise ship off the coast of Japan (pictured with his new wife Wendy)
Alan Steele (pictured right) was separated from his new wife Wendy (pictured left on board the cruise ship) and taken off the Diamond Princess after learning his test results in Yokohama Bay today
The third coronavirus patient in the UK went to A&E at the Royal Sussex in Brighton after suffering from flu-like symptoms before being transferred to Guy's Hospital in London (pictured)
He is thought to be in his 40s or 50s and caught the virus while attending a business conference in Singapore organised by UK company Servomex (pictured, its HQ)
Almost 640 people have died from the coronavirus, which can be spread through coughs, sneezes and touching contaminated surfaces.

Figures also show more than 31,000 cases have been recorded in 29 countries and territories around the world 
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<div class="art-ins mol-factbox health halfRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-662604d0-49b4-11ea-a16c-198eaa94ec49" website tells people flying from Asia to 'call NHS if you're ill'