The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak an international public health emergency.
Their emergency committee made the announcement on Thursday night as the death toll rises to 170.
It comes as about 150 UK citizens are due to be brought back from China on a flight leaving Wuhan city at 7am local time on Friday - 11pm Thursday UK time.
Speaking to reporters, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "The main reason for this declaration is not because of what is happening in China, but because of what is happening in other countries.
"Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it."
Last week, WHO said it was "too early" to declare an international public health emergency but on Thursday said action was needed to help countries to prepare for the possibility of it spreading further.
The new virus has now infected more people in China than fell ill during the 2002-2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak. The number of cases has jumped to 7,711, surpassing the 5,327 people diagnosed with Sars.
Speaking at the press conference in Geneva, Switzerland, Director-General of the World Health Organisation Tedros Adhanom said: "Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the emergence of a previously unknown pathogen, which has escalated into an unprecedented outbreak, and which has been met by an unprecedented response.
"As I have said repeatedly since my return from Beijing, the Chinese government is to be congratulated for the extraordinary measures it has taken to contain the outbreak, despite the severe social and economic impact those measures are having on the Chinese people.
"We would have seen many more cases outside China by now - and probably deaths - if it were not for the government's efforts, and the progress they have made to protect their own people and the people of the world."
In the UK, 161 people have tested negative for the virus as of Thursday.
Passengers on the evacuation flight, which will have military medics on board, will land at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday morning.
They will then be taken to an NHS facility on the Wirral for a quarantine period of 14 days.
It is understood they will be taken to a former student accommodation block in the grounds of Arrowe Park Hospital.
Janelle Holmes, chief executive of Wirral University Hospital, sent a message to staff on Thursday evening, saying: "Around 100 British citizens will be travelling to the UK from China tomorrow.
"We will be welcoming and housing them in the accommodation block at Arrowe Park Hospital.
"Before arrival they will be screened for symptoms. If anyone becomes unwell after arrival they will be treated following appropriate protocols."
It is understood passengers will have access to the internet and be able to make contact with family.
Fifty foreigners - mainly from EU countries - will also be on the evacuation flight which will head to Spain afterwards.
Officials have been working to secure a flight out of Wuhan for British nationals after one planned for Thursday failed to get clearance from Chinese authorities.
The Government anticipates flying out UK citizens who have been in Wuhan and the surrounding Hubei province.
British nationals have been asked to make their own way to the airport, and it is understood the British Consulate has provided letters to help people in cars get past security checkpoints.
Passengers say they have been told only to take hand luggage on the flight.
The WHO has said the "whole world needs to be on alert" over the new coronavirus outbreak. The number of cases of coronavirus has jumped to 7,711, with 170 deaths.
India confirmed its first case on Thursday, as did the Philippines.
Meanwhile, British Airways has extended its suspension of all flights to and from mainland China until Monday.
