Giving Compass' Take:

• Emma Graham-Harrison reports how Australia and other countries are following the US in imposing near-total travel ban as foreign companies scale back activity.

• How can we prevent animal-borne viruses like this one? How can we curb the spreading of little known viruses?

• Read about deciphering fact from fiction regarding the Coronavirus. 

The growing coronavirus epidemic is isolating China, as other countries, trying to ward off infection or contain their own smaller outbreaks bar, entry to travellers from China, and companies including Apple scale down travel and business there.

The UK announced on Saturday it had withdrawn all but essential staff from embassies and consulates in China, as authorities at home dealt with fallout from the first two cases confirmed in Britain – a student at the University of York and a visiting relative.

The university’s vice-chancellor, Charlie Jeffery, said that although he understood the diagnoses would “cause concern and anxiety”, it would not disrupt studies. “We’re working closely with the lead agency, Public Health England, and other agencies to manage this situation,” he said.

The two patients are now under quarantine in Newcastle, and the York hotel room they had been staying in has been disinfected. The university said the student is not believed to have come into contact with anyone on campus while they had symptoms.

Authorities are trying to trace people who had “close contact” with the pair – which is defined as spending at least 15 minutes within two metres of the infected person.

Read the full article about travel bans from China's Coronavirus by Emma Graham-Harrison at The Guardian.