Paris, February 8: Five British nationals including a child have tested positive for the new coronavirus in France, the health minister said Saturday, adding that they had all been staying at the same ski chalet.

France has now detected a total of 11 cases of the novel coronavirus, and the new "cluster" is centred on a Briton who had returned from Singapore and stayed in Contamines-Montjoie, near Mont Blanc in the French Alps, Health Minister Agnes Buzyn said. Coronavirus Outbreak in China: Death Toll Rises to 722 as Hong Kong Imposes Quarantine.

"They show no serious signs" of a life-threatening infection added Buzyn, herself a doctor. In addition to the five Britons who have tested positive for the virus, six other Britons staying in the same chalet in late January were also hospitalised for observation, the minister said.

Authorities are now seeking to contact people who came into close contact with the initially infected Brit, she said. Most of the six previous cases in France appear to have been treated successfully, though all are still in hospital.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 08, 2020 04:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).