The first case of the novel coronavirus has been confirmed in London, bringing the total number of cases in the United Kingdom to nine.

The latest victim is believed to be a Chinese woman who flew into London's Heathrow Airport from China a few days ago. She is being treated in London's St Thomas' Hospital.

The news comes after Steve Walsh, a 53-year-old scout leader from Hove in East Sussex, was discharged from the same hospital, after contracting the virus at a Singapore conference at the end of last month before coming home via a skiing holiday in the Alps.

So far more than 1780 people have been tested for the virus in the UK, and two dozen countries outside China have reported COVID-19 cases.