THE Vice-Chancellor of the University of York has spoken out after it emerged that one of the first two people to test positive for coronavirus in the UK is a student there.

Professor Charlie Jeffery said this afternoon that his immediate concerns were for the affected student and their family, along with the health and continued wellbeing of all students, staff, and the city's residents and visitors.

“We understand this development will cause concern and anxiety," he said.

“I want to reassure our students, staff and the wider community, that we are working closely with the lead agency, Public Health England, and other agencies to manage this situation.”

The student and another family member who also has a confirmed case of coronavirus were at the StayCity aparthotel in York when they were taken to hospital on Wednesday evening.

Health chiefs confirmed on Friday that they had tested positive for the virus - which has killed 259 people in China.

In a statement earlier today, a spokesman for the university said the risk of the infection being passed on to other people on campus was low.

He said: "We understand this development will cause concern and anxiety among our students, staff, and the wider community.

"PHE (Public Health England) has advised us that the risk of infection being passed to others on campus is low.

"Current information from PHE suggests that the student did not come into contact with anybody on campus whilst they had symptoms, but investigations are ongoing to fully establish this.

"Our immediate concerns are for the affected student and family, along with the health and continued wellbeing of our staff, students and visitors."

The spokesman confirmed the University of York continued to operate normally.

He added: "We are monitoring the situation closely and we continue to provide as much advice, care and support as we can to our University community.

"If people have any concerns about their health in relation to suspected coronavirus we ask that they follow current PHE advice and contact NHS 111.

"The University has set up a call centre over the weekend for anyone who has any further concerns or inquiries. The telephone number is 01904 809571."

The hotel firm has said the apartment involved has been thoroughly disinfected and PHE has been providing support.

The two patients are being treated by Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in its specialist Airborne High Consequences Infectious Disease Centre (HCID).

Professor Sharon Peacock said PHE is contacting people who had close contact - defined as being within two metres of the infected person for 15 minutes - with the pair.