UK confirms first coronavirus cases as outbreak spreads globally

Cases around the world rose to 9,950, surpassing the number officially reported during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome epidemic

The UK confirmed its first two cases of novel coronavirus on Friday, while the US and Japan advised citizens to avoid travelling to China. This came hours after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a global health emergency. 

“The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” the WHO said, raising concerns over the effects it would have if the virus spreads to countries with weaker health systems.

Cases around the world rose to 9,950, surpassing the number officially reported during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic. The