• The virus could have a "very significant" impact on the economy, he said, although past episodes suggested this could be a temporary hit that should not affect the long-term future of businesses as a whole.

• Precisely for that reason, there may therefore be a role for economic policy to support activity and the provision of credit in the meantime, in order to ensure that short-term disruption doesn't result in longer-term damage

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain rose to 85 on Wednesday in the biggest daily jump since it was first detected in the country, health ministry figures showed.