There is no 'immediate threat' of coronavirus spreading to Bath, despite the popularity of the city with Chinese tourists, a health official has said.

But a councillor has warned the virus could have a big effect on the amount of money the city makes from tourism.

Dr Bruce Laurence, Bath and North East Somerset Council’s director of public health, moved to reassure people about the risk of coronavirus in Bath last month.

He told a health scrutiny panel meeting on January 28th there was no risk to the Roman Baths, but the council would act according to advice from Public Health England if that changed.

The Roman Baths and other key attractions are hugely popular with tourists from China, with the attraction even having a Chinese version of its website, romanbaths.cn, complete with a promotional video.

Much of China is in lockdown as authorities work to limit the spread of the new strain of coronavirus, which has killed more than 400 people worldwide.

Dr Laurence said universities bring in a lot of students from China and the council is in contact with leaders about coronavirus, but added: “I don’t see any immediate threat at present.”

However the outbreak of coronavirus could hit ambitions to squeeze another £900,000 out of Bath’s museums, a councillor has warned.

Speaking at a meeting scrutinising Bath and North East Somerset Council’s budget for 2020/21, Councillor Eleanor Jackson said: “The coronavirus may have a dramatic impact on the number of Chinese tourists who come, or Chinese stu- dents.”

She added the council was ‘relying heavily’ on money it was expecting to make from Bath’s heritage assets.

The 2020/21 budget says the council’s heritage services – which also include the Fashion Museum, the Victoria Art Gallery and the Guildhall banqueting room – will be expected to boost its profits by £900,000.

In 2017/18 the profit from heritage services was £7.7 million.

Council tax is also set to rise by 3.98 per cent – half of that sum will go on on council services, with the rest ring-fenced for adult social care.

The average band D property will pay £55.76 more than last year, equivalent to £1.07 a week.

The Foreign Office updated its advice to British citizens in China recently, advising them to leave the country if they can as the coronavirus outbreak continues.

The University of Bath is continuing to monitor the situation.

A university spokesman said: “The University of Bath is following the latest Public Health England and Foreign Office advice on the new strain of coronavirus.

“We are closely monitoring the situation, communicating advice to our students and staff and offering support as appropriate. Stephen Sumner, LDRS