The European Union will host an extraordinary meeting of health ministers on Thursday, along with a WHO envoy, to discuss the novel coronavirus outbreak.

So far, only around 30 cases of the new strain have been detected in Europe. However, the World Health Organisation warns that cases outside China could accelerate.

European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic has said, now is the time to join forces to stop this epidemic. He said the EU ministers will discuss ways to prevent the virus’ spread and adopt conclusions in relation to the EU response to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The United States has already banned the arrival of foreign nationals who have visited China recently.

The virus, which first emerged at the end of last year, has killed more than 900 people in China. Some 40,000 people have been infected in China and 350 elsewhere.