A Qantas plane en route to Wuhan to rescue some of the 600 Australians trapped in the Chinese city plagued by coronavirus is due to touchdown in Hong Kong. The Boeing 747 will then travel to the epicentre of deadly virus - once it receives the green light from the Chinese government - to recuse hundreds of stranded Australians. The virus has spread to 18 countries including Australia, which has had nine confirmed cases with more expected. Wuhan, the 11-million-strong epicentre of the outbreak, was put into lock-down last Thursday, amid growing fears over the rapid spread of the deadly virus. The death toll has passed 200 in China, while confirmed cases of infection in the Hubei province are edging towards 10,000.

Source: Daily Mail January 31, 2020 21:19 UTC