BEIJING - The U.S. State Department said on Sunday it will relocate personnel at its Wuhan consulate to the United States and will offer a limited number of seats to private U.S. citizens on a flight out of the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.

The State Department, in an email statement, said some private U.S. citizens will be able to board a flight leaving Wuhan on Jan. 28 bound for San Francisco. Private individuals at greater risk to the coronavirus will be given priority, the statement said.

(Reporting by Se Young Lee; Editing by Michael Perry) ((vincentsy.lee@thomsonreuters.com; +86-10-56692108; follow me on Twitter @Rover829;))