So what could happen and is the NHS well prepared?

Could schools close and public gatherings be banned?

The government has powers it can use to protect people from infection. What measures will be used are still being decided, but they could include:

School closures. Laws to allow bigger class sizes if there are teacher shortages may also be introduced
Restrictions on the use of public transport
The stopping of big gatherings
Troops supporting the emergency services
Police focusing on the most serious crimes and maintaining public order
New legal powers to make people stay in quarantine
A public information campaign will be launched to help people protect themselves. The main focus will be on regular and thorough hand washing.

When could these powers be used?

Exactly what steps are taken will depend upon the severity of the outbreak.

The spread of coronavirus is being monitored by health officials. And the government's emergency Cobra committee - made up of ministers, civil servants and officials - is co-ordinating the response.

Drastic steps such as closing schools would have major social and economic consequences.

Because of this, ministers have stressed the need not to over-react.

It is also virtually impossible to stop all social contact.

As such, measures designed to stop people mixing may be most likely when there are local outbreaks.

This could be in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus and limit the number of cases ahead of an expected peak.

Is the NHS ready for coronavirus?

Up to a fifth of the UK workforce could be off sick during the peak weeks of a major outbreak, the government says.

It believes there could be an increase in deaths, especially among elderly people and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart or lung problems and diabetes.

The NHS has detailed plans to cope with outbreaks of disease and surges in demand.

There are 30 hospitals on stand-by to take patients - although most of the UK cases so far have been taken to one of five specialist hospitals in England.

But the rest of the NHS has been put on an emergency footing.

Hospitals have been asked to draw up plans to segregate coronavirus patients from others and supply staff with protective masks and suits.

Every hospital has been told to set up isolation pods in case patients arrive with the virus. These are not to treat patients, but to ensure they do not mix with other patients and staff when they arrive.

Patients are being advised to contact NHS 111 in England and self-isolate - the rest of the UK has its own arrangements. People who are worried they may have coronavirus should not go to A&E, or their GP.

How will the NHS treat seriously ill patients?

Currently there is no treatment or cure, so hospitals are trying to relieve the symptoms.

Specialist equipment called ECMO - which helps with breathing - is available at a small number of units for the most severely ill patients if their lungs fail.

In the worst-case scenario of widespread transmission in the UK - an epidemic - the 30 hospitals could start cancelling routine treatments to prioritise coronavirus patients.

Assessments are being made about which patients can be advised to stay at home and isolate themselves to allow hospitals to focus on the most severely ill.

The illness caused by the virus for many seems to be mild and passes.

Can coronavirus be contained?

Public Health England officials have said widespread transmission of coronavirus in the UK is "highly likely". They believe some people infected have no link to overseas cases.

Efforts are now on delaying the spread of the disease, the aims of which include:

Pushing cases further away from winter pressures on the NHS, so there is more capacity
Allowing time for the UK to improve its response, or develop measures such as drugs and vaccines. The government has pledged £46m for urgent work to find a vaccine and develop a rapid test
Push cases towards summer, when the rate of transmission could be lower
Work to contain the disease is also continuing. That involves tracing people who have had close contact with infected people and getting them to self-isolate.