A man thought to be a Chinese national has been taken to hospital after falling ill at a hotel in York, as a cruise ship has been quarantined it Italy after a passenger was being checked for coronavirus.
The hotel guest's apartment at the StayCity hotel has been cordoned off as a precaution.
Witnesses said they saw a man wearing a face mask leaving the hotel with paramedics.
The hotel is close to the Barbican Theatre in York.
A StayCity spokesperson said: "StayCity Group have confirmed that a man staying at the group's property in York was taken ill yesterday and is understood to be undergoing tests at a local hospital.
"Paramedics accompanied the man, along with his two travelling companions, out of the property at around 7.50pm last night.
"StayCity is unable to confirm which hospital the three people were taken to or what the outcome of the tests are at this point.
"Until more is known the apartment containing the group's belongings will be cordoned off, along with surrounding rooms, after which the area will undergo a thorough environmental clean and disinfection, as is company policy."
The Department of Health said it was not able to comment.
Separately, an Italian cruise ship with 6,000 people on board is being held off the coast after a Chinese couple fell ill with suspected cases of coronavirus.
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The Costa Smeralda vessel is being held at Civitavecchia, north of Rome, as the couple came down with a fever.
It is reported the couple from Hong Kong arrived in Italy on January 25 and boarded the ship in the port of Savona.
They subsequently came down with a fever and are suffering breathing difficulties.
The liner has visited Marseilles and Barcelona and Palma in Majorca before docking.
None of the passengers or crew are being allowed off the ship as medical checks are carried out.
The Italian media reported that the woman has "mild flu-like symptoms" and the husband has no symptoms but is in isolation as a precaution.
"The situation is under control and at the moment there are no reasons for concern on board," said Vincenzo Leone, Coastguard captain of the Lazio coast.
"All the protocols are being followed and we will keep the case constantly monitored", the Mayor of Civitavecchia, Ernesto Tedesco said.
Meanwhile, it was announced the 200 British citizens being flown out of Wuhan following the outbreak of coronavirus will be quarantined in the north west.
It is believed they will be housed in an NHS facility - such as nurses' accommodation.
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