The Foreign Office has updated its advice to warn against all but essential travel to mainland China following the coronavirus outbreak.
The government’s official travel advice now reads: “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all travel to Hubei Province due to the ongoing novel coronavirus outbreak. If you’re in this area and able to leave, you should do so.
“The FCO advise against all but essential travel to the rest of mainland China (not including Hong Kong and Macao).”
The FCO also warns that because of attempts by Chinese authorities to stop the spread of coronavirus “it may become harder over the coming weeks for those who wish to leave China to do so”.
“If you feel that you may want to leave China soon, you should consider making plans to do so before any further restrictions may be imposed.”
Meanwhile, the government said it was working on plans to help British nationals leave the virus-hit Hubei province.
“This may happen quickly and with short notice,” the FCO warned.
Those stuck in the city of Wuhan and surrounding areas have been urged to contact the British consulate before 11am on Wednesday if they wish to leave.
The Foreign Office has yet to confirm details, but a teacher in Wuhan city told the PA news agency that UK citizens were being given details of forthcoming flights.
Officials estimate up to 200 citizens currently there will want to return to the UK.
Hubei province has been on lockdown for several days as China seeks to contain the illness, as have other parts of China.
Hong Kong also said on Tuesday it would “temporarily” close some of its borders with mainland China and stop issuing travel permits to mainland Chinese tourists.
More than 100 people have now died in China, with confirmed infections surging to more than 4,500.