10ft fences and free clothes for isolation unit

FRIDGES, blankets and clothes were yesterday delivered to a conference centre in Milton Keynes, where more than 200 Britons on the next UK Government flight from Wuhan will be taken for a 14-day spell in quarantine.

A 10ft metal fence has also been erected around Kents Hill Park, a training and conference venue on the outskirts of the Buckinghamshire town, as preparations are made for the passengers.

A l orry was seen delivering bags of clothes from Primark yesterday afternoon and a security hut has also been built on the site, where the British nationals will be taken later today.

After they arrive, passengers will continue to be monitored and anyone who shows symptoms during their two-week stay will be tested for the virus. If they test positive they will be isolated and given specialist NHS care.

A statement from Milton Keynes University Hospital said: ‘The British citizens are being flown from Wuhan in China, the epicentre of the current outbreak of coronavirus, back to the UK on Sunday.

‘Everyone being repatriated will be assessed before boarding the plane in China, monitored during the flight and will continue to be monitored after landing in the UK.

‘A facility at Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes is being used to house these returning citizens and they will remain at the site in isolation for 14 days. During this time their health will be regularly assessed.’

The flight took off from Wuhan at 7.20pm UK time last night.

Britons on two earlier repatriation flights are at Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral.

The statement added: ‘The isolation of the guests in Milton Keynes is being undertaken as a highly precautionary measure as they have been at the epicentre of the

No one with symptoms allowed on the plane

outbreak and at increased risk of exposure to the virus.

‘The presence of this group in Milton Keynes does not present any risk to local people. No one showing symptoms of the coronavirus would have been allowed to board the plane in China.’

It said that all staff working at the facility would be wearing appropriate protective equipment.

There have been more than 34,000 cases of the virus worldwide, mostly in China.

More than 700 people have died but only two of the victims were outside mainland China.