THOUSANDS across America are in voluntary self-quarantine after returning from coronavirus-hit China, health officials reveal

Thousands of Americans who have returned from China are being asked to self-quarantine for two weeks as a precaution.

US citizens who have recently returned from China, where the coronavirus outbreak began, have been asked to shut themselves away for 14 days and to limit contact with others.

The returnees have shown no signs of having contracted the virus, formally known as COVID-19, and haven't developed a fever or respiratory complications.

Globally, the coronavirus epidemic has killed at least 2,247 people and infected more than 76,700, and has spread to at least two dozen countries.

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