UK over-reacted to coronavirus outbreak, says Chinese ambassador

LONDON (Reuters) – Britain’s advice to its nationals to leave China because of the coronavirus oubreak in Hubei province was an over-reaction, the Chinese ambassador to London said on Thursday.

Asked during a news conference if the Chinese authorities had been consulted about the advice, Liu Xiaoming said: “We did tell them over-reaction is not helpful. We asked them to take the advice of the WHO to make a reasonable response. Do not over-react.”

(Reporting by Estelle Shirbon and Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)