A police station in Bristol was recently placed on lockdown over concerns that an arrested Chinese national had deadly coronavirus.
The disease is feared to be spreading across the globe after more than 600 confirmed cases and 25 deaths in China.
Avon and Somerset Police has now confirmed a Chinese national showed symptoms of the virus in custody after being arrested yesterday and had recently been in contact with people from the Wuhan area.
Trinity Road Police Station in Bristol and Patchway Police Centre were both closed as health bosses assessed if they have been hit by the outbreak.
It was later established the detainee was not suffering from coronavirus and both sites were re-opened this morning.
A force statement said: “At just before 7pm on Wednesday 22 January, staff at the custody unit at Patchway Police Centre became aware of a detainee displaying flu-like symptoms.
“There were initial concerns that the detainee, a Chinese national, may have had contact with people who had recently travelled from the Wuhan area of China.
“Following precautionary advice from the NHS and health practitioners, Patchway Police Centre was temporarily closed along with Trinity Road Police Station in Bristol, where officers involved in the arrest had travelled to.
“As well as the officers and members of police staff, there was one member of the public at Trinity Road Police Station, who was asked to remain in the building as a precaution while we sought further advice.
“Following expert advice from Public Health England, it was established this was not a case of the much-publicised novel coronavirus and both stations were fully re-opened at just after midnight. The detainee has been given the appropriate medical attention and remains in custody at this time.”
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One member of the public who attended the station to give a statement when he was told he would have to remain at the station while it was ‘under quarantine’.
He said: “After I gave the statement I went to the toilet, when I came out I was told ‘we have some bad news’.
“They told me to stay after a Chinese national had been arrested at Patchway and the officers had come to Trinity.
“The stations were under quarantine. I was well looked after – the officers even managed to get a Dominos ordered.”
