Up to 20 Dutch people resident in the coronavirus-ridden Chinese city of Wuhan are expected to fly home on a French aircraft this weekend.

The NOS broadcaster reports that they have been informed by the Dutch embassy in China that if their Dutch homes are suitable for a quarantine period, they will be able to return to them.

They will be asked to sign a contract pledging to remain there in quarantine for a period of two weeks, the broadcaster reports.

The decision about whether their homes are adequately separated from others will be made by GGD local health services, and the national institute for public health is drawing up a protocol for how the isolation will work in practical terms.

There are 20 Dutch nationals living in the city where the new, deadline coronavirus broke out last month. The NOS reports that five of them wish to stay there, but it is unknown how many will take advantage of the evacuation flight.

The virus is believed to have originated in a seafood market in Wuhan – now shut down – where animals including snakes, marmots and poultry were sold and where the common animal virus seems to have mutated and crossed to humans.