<p>Britain postponed the planned evacuation on Thursday of around 200 of its citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak.</p>.<p>London has chartered a plane to fly out nationals stranded in the central city, and had said it would leave on Thursday.</p>.<p>But AFP understands British officials have not yet received permission from China for the flight to depart.</p>.<p>"We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK," a foreign office spokeswoman said.</p>.<p>"We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible.</p>.<p>"We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels."</p>.<p>The Wuhan metropolis is at the heart of the coronavirus epidemic that has so far killed 170 people and spread to at least 15 countries around the world.</p>.<p>China reported its biggest single-day jump in new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, deepening global fears about the outbreak.</p>.<p>Thousands of foreigners have been trapped in Wuhan since it was sealed off last week.</p>.<p>Japan and the United States became the first countries to organise airlifts out of Wuhan for their citizens on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Britain is joined by Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, among others, in planning similar operations.</p>.<p>London on Wednesday said those returning will be "safely isolated" for two weeks with all the necessary medical attention.</p>
<p>Britain postponed the planned evacuation on Thursday of around 200 of its citizens from Wuhan, the Chinese city at the epicentre of a deadly virus outbreak.</p>.<p>London has chartered a plane to fly out nationals stranded in the central city, and had said it would leave on Thursday.</p>.<p>But AFP understands British officials have not yet received permission from China for the flight to depart.</p>.<p>"We are doing everything we can to get British people in Wuhan safely back to the UK," a foreign office spokeswoman said.</p>.<p>"We continue working urgently to organise a flight to the UK as soon as possible.</p>.<p>"We remain in close contact with the Chinese authorities and conversations are ongoing at all levels."</p>.<p>The Wuhan metropolis is at the heart of the coronavirus epidemic that has so far killed 170 people and spread to at least 15 countries around the world.</p>.<p>China reported its biggest single-day jump in new coronavirus deaths on Thursday, deepening global fears about the outbreak.</p>.<p>Thousands of foreigners have been trapped in Wuhan since it was sealed off last week.</p>.<p>Japan and the United States became the first countries to organise airlifts out of Wuhan for their citizens on Wednesday.</p>.<p>Britain is joined by Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, among others, in planning similar operations.</p>.<p>London on Wednesday said those returning will be "safely isolated" for two weeks with all the necessary medical attention.</p>