Grandmother trapped in Coronavirus lockdown will not fly home as planned

A grandmother from Lancaster who is stuck in the Chinese city at the centre of the Coronavirus outbreak, will now not fly home today (Thursday 30 January.)

The British government had anticipated flying around 200 UK citizens out of the country but it is understood Chinese officials have not yet granted permission for the chartered flight to depart.

Veronica Theobald was visiting her grandson Kharn Lambert in Wuhan. The 81-year-old was trapped by the lockdown designed to contain the virus, but found herself running out of medication for a lung condition.

The UK government had been preparing to airlift 200 British citizens from Wuhan.

Meanwhile the World Health Organisation (WHO) emergency committee is expected to meet on Thursday to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency.

The Foreign Office said it was working to secure the flight as soon as possible, with the UK nationals set to be quarantined for two weeks when they arrive back in the country.