Here's the latest FCO travel advice for the countries most affected by coronavirus

As the number of cases of Covid-19 - the coronavirus that's spreading across the world - continues to increase, the advice on travelling to certain regions of the world is changing.

Nearly 116,000 cases have been confirmed worldwide, with over 4,000 people dying as a result of the outbreak.

The virus now affects over 100 countries and territories worldwide, and rounding up all of the travel advice for each of them would be counter-intuitive.

So, here is the official travel advice for some of the more popular destinations most affected by Covid-19:

China

There is an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19). The virus originated in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, but cases have been confirmed in all provinces of China.

On 23 January the Wuhan authorities closed all transport hubs including airports, railway and bus stations. Some shops and amenities are closed; public events have been cancelled and Chinese authorities have advised the public to avoid crowds.

Travel restrictions are in place across Hubei Province. Due to the severity of travel restrictions and difficulty accessing medical assistance, the FCO assisted the departure of British nationals and dependents via charter flights on 31 January and 9 February.

The Chinese authorities are focused on tackling the impact of the virus and continue to impose various control and quarantine measures across the country:

Temperature checks are in place at transport hubs, hotels, commercial buildings including restaurants, and other locations. There is extensive screening of arrivals in some airports, including Shanghai, with reports of processes in some cases taking many hours, including planes being held on the tarmac for lengthy periods before passengers are allowed to disembark.Some restrictions are in place on entering and leaving residential compounds, including temperature checks and restrictions on access for non-residentsThere are quarantine arrangements for travel between different parts of the country. Beijing requires those returning to the municipality to undergo 14 days of isolation in their place of residence or in group observation. Quarantine is enforced at the neighbourhood level, and procedures vary across neighbourhoodsForeign nationals arriving in China from overseas will be asked to register their residence, and may be required to undergo 14 days of isolation. Local authorities in Beijing, Shanghai and in Guangdong province have announced 14 days of mandatory quarantine for people who have visited or transited Italy, Iran, Japan and the Republic of Korea before arriving in China (Shanghai and Guangdong have specified this will be effective for anyone visiting these countries up to 14 days prior to arrival in China). The number of provinces and cities implementing such restrictions is likely to increase and may also apply to arrivals from further countries. There have been reports of British and other foreign nationals being put under compulsory quarantine or home isolation in Beijing and other locations across China, including following arrival from other destinations beyond those specified above. Before you travel, check with your travel operator or hotel for any changes or restrictionsThere are tight controls on entry and exit to villages and townships across the country, and varying degrees of restriction on movement within every province, and individual cities and municipalitiesSome businesses and many tourist attractions have closed. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has suspended all tour group companies’ activities to prevent further virus spread.

Medical facilities across the country may come under significant pressure. Some are not accepting patients and others have long queues.

A large number of airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, have announced a suspension of flights to and from mainland China. Other commercial airlines are still operating, but it may become harder to access departure options over the coming weeks.

The possibility that local authorities impose mandatory quarantine in response to fresh outbreaks is high. You should keep up to date with the latest developments and this travel advice.

If you’re in China, Public Health England advise that you should maintain good hand, respiratory and personal hygiene and should avoid visiting animal and bird markets or people who are ill with respiratory symptoms.

If you’re returning to the UK from China, consult the latest advice from the Department of Health and Social Care.

Further information on coronavirus, including advice on preparing for foreign travel and helping reduce the spread of the virus, is available on the TravelHealthPro website. Keep up to date with local health advice and comply with any additional screening measures put in place by the local authorities.

You can find more information about cases in China on the TravelHealthPro country page.

Italy

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advise against all but essential travel to Italy, due to an ongoing outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19) and in line with various controls and restrictions imposed by the Italian authorities on 9 March.

British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction. Airports remain open throughout Italy. However, airline schedules are subject to change and some flights are being cancelled. Travellers are advised to check flight details with airlines.