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British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Tuesday congratulated the Chinese authorities on the speedy sharing of the novel coronavirus outbreak information.

"I congratulate the Chinese authorities on the speed with which they posted the news of the outbreak that has serious international implications," Johnson told a press conference at Downing Street.

The prime minister said Britain continues to have a global coordination on fighting against the virus.

Johnson hosted the press conference to launch the action plan to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, alongside Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Government Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance.

Whitty, for his part, said the Chinese authorities have "very helpfully" laid out valuable information such as mortality rate related to the virus.

The new action plan sets out how government ministers will take every reasonable step to confront the virus, guided by scientific evidence, and ensuring the government is able to adapt quickly to changing circumstances.

Britain has 51 confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, according to Health Secretary Matt Hancock.