MORE than 260 calls have been made to a dedicated helpline in York after a student at one of the city's universities was confirmed as having the coronavirus.

The University of York set up a call centre on Saturday after confirming one of the first two confirmed UK cases of the virus was a student.

The calls have come from staff, students, parents and a small number of members of the public with general concerns and asking for information and guidance, a university spokesman said.

Some 200 calls were made on Saturday and a further 67 had been received by 1pm on Monday.

The line - 01904 809571 - will remain open on Monday.

The university said the risk to anyone on campus is low because it has been established that the student was not on campus or in student accommodation for the period before being exposed to the virus or after.

In a statement on Sunday, University of York vice-chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery and representatives from the Chinese Students and Scholars Association said the student did not attend a university Chinese New Year celebration or recent graduation ceremonies.

They said as soon as the student's relative showed symptoms, they contacted emergency services and were both taken to the specialist medical facility in Newcastle, where they were diagnosed with the virus.

A spokesman said the university remains open as usual and stressed that it will continue to monitor the situation.

Meanwhile, City of York Council issued a new statement on Sunday afternoon.

Sharon Stoltz, director of public health at the council, said: “Robust infection control measures are in place in York and we are working closely with Public Health England, the Department for Health and Social Care and partners across the city.

"The risk to individuals living and working in York is low and the city remains very much open to residents, visitors and students. More information about coronavirus is available at www.gov.uk/coronavirus."