Two patients with suspected Middle Eastern Respiratory Virus Syndrome (Mers) who sparked the closure of an accident and emergency department are awaiting their test results.
Manchester Royal Infirmary's A&E unit closed for around two hours yesterday afternoon in response to fears of an outbreak of the potentially deadly Sars-like virus.
Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said the pair continued to be monitored, with one relocated to North Manchester General hospital.
A spokeswoman for the trust said: "Both patients were isolated for ongoing management of their condition while tests took place. One patient has now been relocated to North Manchester General. Results of the tests are still pending.
"Manchester Royal Infirmary A&E is now open to the public.
"We would like to reassure our patients and the general public that there is no significant risk to public health."
Mers is a viral respiratory disease caused by a coronavirus (Mers‐CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
Last month the World Health Organisation said 1,333 cases had been confirmed throughout the world and approximately 36% of infected patients had died.
Although the source of Mers-CoV is currently unknown, there is growing evidence of the possible role of camels in transmitting the virus to humans.
Public Health England said ongoing surveillance has identified 314 suspect cases in the UK that have been investigated and found to be negative.
The last person to be diagnosed in the UK with the potentially deadly Sars-like virus was in February 2013, despite a recent rise in cases in the Middle East and outbreaks in South Korea and China.
Dr Rosemary McCann, North West deputy director for Public Health England, said the risk in the UK "remains very low".
"Although cases continue to be reported from the Middle East, no new cases of Mers-CoV have been detected in the UK since February 2013," she said.
"There is presently no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of Mers-CoV, and the risk of contracting infection in the UK remains very low.
"The risk to UK residents travelling to Middle Eastern countries may be slightly higher than within the UK, but is still very low.
"Limited onward transmission in South Korea has been associated with health care settings, and the risk to UK tourists visiting South Korea is also considered to be very low."
Dr Derek Gatherer, a lecturer at the University of Lancaster, said: "Outside hospitals the risk to the general public is extremely low and the outbreak ought not to cause concern.
"There is no treatment for Mers other than a general symptomatic support for pneumonia, perhaps involving steroid drugs to widen airways and assist breathing. There is no vaccine at present."