Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed the illness of a Chinese national at Patchway Police Centre is not linked to the deadly coronavirus.

The Chinese city of Wuhan is currently in lockdown in an attempt to quarantine the deadly virus and there was concern someone in custody at the Patchway station may have had contact with people who had recently travelled from there.

Just before 7pm yesterday (Wednesday) staff became aware of a detainee displaying flu-like symptoms and the police centre, along with Trinity Road station in Bristol where officers involved in the arrest had travelled to, was temporarily closed.

Officers and staff were all forced to remain in the building as a precaution.

A member of the public who attended Trinity Road police station to provide a witness statement told of how he was ordered to remain while the station was 'under quarantine'.

He said: "After I gave the statement I went to the toilet, when I came out I was told 'we have some bad news'.

"They told me to stay after a Chinese national had been arrested at Patchway and the officers had come to Trinity.

"The stations were under quarantine.''

"I was well looked after - the officers even managed to get a Dominos ordered."

Risk of the virus in the UK has recently been upgraded from 'very low' to 'low' by Public Health England.

The unknown virus causes cold-like symptoms including a runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat and a fever.
So far, in Wuhan, the virus has killed 17 people.

Following advice from Public Health England it was established the detainee had not had contact with people from Wuhan. They were given medical attention and remain in custody while the buildings reopened shortly after midnight.