Chinese nationals quarantined in Mozambique hotel

Four Chinese nationals have been quarantined at a hotel in Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, as part of measures to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

They were taken to the Chinese-owned hotel after arriving last Thursday at the international airport from China, where the outbreak has killed more than 560 people.

The news became public after one of the hotel’s staff members told state broadcaster Radio Mozambique that there was a great deal of alarm amongst his colleagues.

But the Maputo health authorities say those under quarantine do not show any symptoms of the virus – and it is solely a preventative measure.

People are infectious even before their symptoms appear: the time between infection and symptoms - known as the incubation period - lasts up to 14 days.