THE UKs first confirmed cases of coronavirus are being treated in the North-East, the government has confirmed.
This morning, The Department of Health revealed that two members of the same family had tested positive for the virus but previously declined to reveal their location.
However, the Chief Medical Officer for England has since confirmed the patients are being treated within a high consequence infectious disease unit in Newcastle.
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Public Health England have said they are now working to contact everybody who has been in contact with the two cases being treated in the North-East.
'Patients are receiving specialist NHS care'
In a statement, chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said: "The patients are receiving specialist NHS care, and we are using tried and tested infection control procedures to prevent further spread of the virus.
"The NHS is extremely well-prepared and used to managing infections and we are already working rapidly to identify any contacts the patients had, to prevent further spread.
"We have been preparing for UK cases of novel coronavirus and we have robust infection control measures in place to respond immediately.
"We are continuing to work closely with the World Health Organisation and the international community as the outbreak in China develops to ensure we are ready for all eventualities."
'Why the North-East?'
In the UK, there are four Airborne High Consequences Infectious Diseases Centres which are specially equipped to receive people with illnesses like coronavirus.
They are at the Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary is one of the UK's two contact 'HCIDs' capable of treating deadly viruses.
'We're aiming to contact everybody who has been in contact with two cases'
Sharon Peacock, the director for national infection service at Public Health England said: "We were able to stand up an outbreak investigation team immediately and that team is working now, and what they'll be doing is aiming to contact everybody who has been in contact with these two cases and prevent onward transmission."
Citing patient confidentiality when asked about the condition of the two patients, medical chiefs declined to release information including where they are from, or if they had travelled to the UK from China.
RVI patient said quarantine was 'like a Sci-Fi film'
Last week, The Northern Echo reported claims that a North-East man had been quarantined at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
Michael Hope was told to remain indoors in two calls from Public Health England and medics at Newcastle's infectious diseases unit in the RVI.
Upon arrival to the hospital, Mr Hope, a British teacher said he had been greeted by a scene from a sci-fi film.
Hotel rooms cordoned off in York after Chinese national took ill
On Wednesday, a man believed to be a chinese national was taken to hospital after being taken ill at a York City Centre Hotel.
The man, who had been staying at the StayCity hotel had to be taken to hospital after falling ill - the group which runs the hotel, Staycity Group confirmed he had been taken to a local hospital 'undergo tests.'
It is understood that the two men now being held at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation had travelled to the UK from China in recent day and had been staying at a hotel in Yorkshire.
A hotel spokesperson said that his room and belongings had been cordoned off, while the affected space would undergo a thorough environmental clean.
The Northern Echo contacted the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for comment but did not recieve a response.
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