The declaration allows public health officials to keep individuals. Who may have contracted the coronavirus in isolation. It comes as the number of cases in the country rose to eight on Monday.

LONDON — Britain’s health department declared the new coronavirus an “imminent threat”. To public health and announced a series of measures to combat the spread of the virus. A sign of the seriousness with which local health authorities are treating the fears of the epidemic.

READ MORE IN/FO This link:

Four more people linked to a cluster of transmissions at a ski resort. France tested positive for the coronavirus. Bringing the total number of cases in Britain to eight. The health department announced Monday.

The newly introduced measures — which apply only to England. Are among the first in Europe to allow health authorities to keep individuals. In quarantine, if public health professionals believe they may be at risk of spreading the virus.

The new coronavirus has sickened more than 40,600 people. Mostly in China and at least 920 people have died since. The virus first emerged in Wuhan. A city of 10 million people in the central part of the country late last year. Since that time, the virus has also spread to at least 24 countries. Triggering fears of a global pandemic.

The Department of Health and Social Care emphasized. That the risk of contracting the coronavirus in Britain remained “moderate.” Even as the government empowered the health authorities to forcibly quarantine people. It also designated a hospital, near Liverpool, and a conference center, northwest of London. As isolation facilities for those placed under quarantine.

The new measures were announced a day after a repatriation flight from Hubei Province. Wuhan is the largest city in the area — carrying about 201 citizens from Britain and elsewhere landed. At an air force base in central England. Those on the flight were taken to the Kents Hill Park conference center. About 52 miles northwest of London, for 14 days of quarantine.

By Monday morning, eight people in England had tested positive for the coronavirus. According to a statement from Professor Chris Whitty. The Department of Health’s Chief Medical Officer for England. Doubling the known cases in the country.

“The new cases are all known contacts of a previously confirmed U.K. case. The virus was passed on in France,” Professor Whitty said in a statement. “Experts at Public Health England continue to work hard tracing patient contacts from the U.K. cases. They successfully identified these individuals and ensured the appropriate support was provided.”