LONDON: A fourth case of the new coronavirus has been diagnosed in Britain after a patient contracted the illness from a previously confirmed British case while in France.

Last week a British national tested positive after returning to Britain from Singapore, becoming the third confirmed case of the virus. He is believed to have stayed in France for a few days on his way home, passing the virus on to others there.

“A further patient has tested positive for novel coronavirus in England, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to four,” Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said in a statement.

“The new case is a known contact of a previously confirmed UK case, and the virus was passed on in France.”

(With inputs from agencies)