Hotel near Heathrow airport closed, designated coronavirus quarantine center

A London hotel near Heathrow Airport has been designated a coronavirus quarantine center, The Independent reported Monday. 

The Holiday Inn Heathrow Ariel hotel was closed Saturday and staff was told it would remain closed at least through the end of the month, The Independent reported. 

Guests have reportedly been transferred to sister hotels. 

Sources told the Independent the hotel was booked as a potential quarantine zone for international visitors with coronavirus or for British residents evacuated from overseas. 

The hotel’s general manager told the outlet the hotel has been closed but said there had not been any cases of the virus at the hotel. 

British officials are deciding whether to evacuate 74 citizens that are quarantined on a cruise in Japan where hundreds of people have tested positive for the virus. 

The U.S. evacuated more than 300 Americans from the ship Sunday, 14 of which were diagnosed with the virus during the evacuation. 

The passengers will remain in quarantine for two weeks in the U.S.