TWO police stations were closed last night after a detainee who may have been in contact with people from the Wuhan area of China fell ill.

Officers at Patchway Police Centre's custody unit became aware of a detainee displaying flu like symptoms at around 7pm on Wednesday (January 22).

Police were concerned that the person, a Chinese national, may have been in contact with people who had recently travelled from the Wuhan area of China, which is currently battling an outbreak of coronavirus.

Patchway Police Centre and Trinity Road Police Station, where officers involved in the arrest had travelled to, were both closed temporarily as a precaution.

According to the World Health Organisation the virus, which has killed 17 people, can cause illnesses as minor as a cold, or as serious as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Following advice from Public Health England officers reopened the stations just after midnight.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police, 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.

"All those involved in this incident have been given up-to-date advice from Public Health England and we’d like to thank the member of the public for their patience and understanding while we took this precautionary action. We’d like to assure our communities there is no risk to the public.