THE University of Bolton has banned all but essential business travel by academics to China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

And the university is keeping the 85 Chinese students at the university informed of the latest travel advice.

The university body has visited China, with which it has close links and delivers courses there, many times in the past years.

A spokesman for the university said: “Our top priority is ensuring the safety and welfare of our students and staff.

“As a precautionary measure and until further notice any and all travel to China by university staff on university business must be essential and pre-authorised by the registrar.

“In common with other UK universities, we have been monitoring the coronavirus situation as it unfolds.

“We will continue to follow the latest FCO advice and to monitor the situation, which is evolving rapidly.”

The University of Chester said it has notified its students currently in the UK that if they return to China for Chinese New Year they will not be readmitted without a suitable quarantine period.

Vice-chancellors’ group Universities UK said: “Ensuring the safety and welfare of their students is a top priority for universities.

“UK universities have been monitoring the coronavirus situation as it unfolds and universities with students in affected areas are working to identify appropriate actions.”

The Government’s Cobra emergency committee has met to discuss the threat to the UK after 14 people in the UK were tested for the virus, with five given the all-clear.

Professor Paul Cosford, emeritus medical director at Public Health England, has said it is still “early days” but it is “highly likely” that cases would be seen in the UK.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the risk to the UK public “remains low”.

Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, sneezing and coughing.

GPs and hospitals across the country have had a letter from the Chief Medical Officer and the medical director at NHS England and Public Health England. If a GP suspects a patient has coronavirus, they should be placed in a room away from other patients and staff with the door closed, the Public Health England guidance states. They should not be allowed to use communal toilet facilities or be physically examined, it adds.

A letter from the Chief Medical Officer to clinical staff said anyone who is confirmed as having the virus will be transferred to an Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease centre.

The official death toll in China has been rising with more than 830 confirmed cases. Almost 30 million people are facing travel restrictions.