The total number of coronavirus cases in the UK has today soared to 164, with 147 confirmed in England, 11 in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland, and two in Wales.
Today brought the biggest day-on-day increase so far, with 47 more people were diagnosed in the last 24 hours.
There has been one confirmed death linked to the virus in the UK, and health authorities are understood to be investigating a second.
The deaths came after a man who died Covid-19 in Japan last month after catching it on the quarantined Diamond Princess cruise ship became the first Brit to die from the illlness.
More cases emerged around the UK today, with more office workers sent home in London after a visitor to their workplace tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Have you been affected? Email [email protected]
Coronavirus hits Ibiza as first case confirmed in party spot popular with Brits
Coronavirus expert says society is 'at war' in fight against global pandemic
Where have the cases been detected so far?
South East of England
A man in his 80s, who had underlying health conditions, is feared to have become the second person to die in the UK.
He was being treated at Milton Keynes Hospital in Buckinghamshire and samples taken from him are being tested for Covid-19.
The death, which has not yet been confirmed as being caused by the virus, comes the day after a woman aged in her 70s was confirmed to be the first person to die from the virus in the UK.
Government warned it must act 'urgently to stop homeless coronavirus crisis'
Authorities said the patient had underlying health conditions and had died after testing positive for coronavirus – which it is believed was contracted in the UK.
As of today there are 24 confirmed cases in England's south east.
London
The capital remains the region with the most confirmed cases.
So far there are 29 confirmed cases in London.
Two baggage handlers at London's Heathrow Airport tested positive for the virus today.
The British Airways workers have been told to isolate themselves at home.
A spokesman for the airline said: "Public Health England has confirmed that two members of our staff have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.
"The colleagues have been isolated and are recovering at home."
Facebook announced today it is closing its London offices after an employee was diagnosed with coronavirus.
The social media giant will be shutting down three of its office after an employee who is based in Singapore visited between 24-26 February.
Another office in Canary Wharf was cleared out today amid contamination fears.
More than 1,200 staff at commodity pricing agency S&P Global Platts' office in Canary Wharf were today ordered to work from home after a visitor was later diagnosed with Covid-19.
Coronavirus UK: Latest government advice and areas hit as cases reach 163
It comes a day after HSBC confirmed that an employee at its Canary Wharf headquarters had tested positive.
Last week hundreds of staff at Chevron in Canary Wharf, which is one of London's two key banking districts alongside the City, were sent to work from home after temporarily closing their offices in the area due to a worker reporting symptoms.
South West of England
A case of coronavirus has been confirmed in Bristol following the news 15 people across the south west have now contracted the virus.
The person was infected while in northern Italy and has been self-isolating at home since their return.
Both Bristol City Council and Public Health England confirmed the news this afternoon in a joint statement, Bristol Live reports.
Midlands
Twelve cases have been reported in the Midlands, with the numbers rising by three in 24 hours.
The first reported case in Birmingham emerged yesterday.
Dr Justin Varney, the city's chief medical officer, also revealed the patient had contracted the strain while attending a UK conference.
The patient displayed symptoms of the strain upon returning from the conference, where another attendant had confirmed patient.
They were met by Public Health England officials in the city after returning and subsequently tested positive, Birmingham Live reports.
Coronavirus expert says society is 'at war' in fight against global pandemic
East of England
Eleven cases have been confirmed in the England's east, with the total rising by three today.
The total of all of England had risen by three overnight.
The first case of Covid-19 in Nottingham was confirmed today, Nottinghamshire Live reports.
The city resident had recently returned from South Korea.
Dr Fu-Meng Khaw, centre director, Public Health England East Midlands, said Public Health England is contacting people who had close contact with the person.
Public warned that supermarkets will be well stocked with all supplies despite coronavirus
“Close contacts will be given health advice about symptoms and emergency contact details to use if they become unwell in the 14 days after contact with the confirmed case/s.
“This tried and tested method will ensure we are able to minimise any risk to them and the wider public.”
North East of England and Yorkshire
Thirteen people have tested positive for coronavirus in the North East and Yorkshire region – rising three cases since yesterday.
The Examiner Live reports that in Yorkshire there have been confirmed cases in Rotherham , York, Leeds, Ilkley and a suspected case in Barnsley .
Two GP surgeries in Mexborough and Sheffield closed the doors today after patients presented with suspected symptoms of the virus.
The doors had to be closed to other patients so that deep cleans could take place.
Coronavirus: Facebook closes three London offices after employee tests positive
North West of England
Twenty one people have tested positive for coronavirus in the North West, rising five since yesterday.
One of them is a Liverpool resident who is believed to have contracted the virus during a recent trip to northern Italy, according to the Liverpool ECHO .
Yesterday our sister news site reported how a child at Alder Hey Children's Hospital is believed to have tested positive for coronavirus.
The ECHO reported the young child, who was admitted to the Liverpool hospital yesterday, is believed to have been diagnosed with the virus on March 5.
New positive tests were also confirmed in Wigan, Trafford and Stockport, bringing the total number in Greater Manchester to 14 today, according to the Manchester Evening News.
A Trafford Council spokesperson confirmed the fourth person diagnosed in the area is a case of a household contact of one of the three people previously diagnosed.
The new case in Stockport is also a known contact of a previous case diagnosed, bringing the total who have the virus in the area to two, authorities said.
Scotland
Scotland confirmed five new coronavirus cases today, marking the it largest single-day increase for the country so far.
There are now 11 confirmed cases in Scotland.
here are currently three cases in Grampian, two in Forth Valley, two in Fife, one in Tayside, one in Ayrshire & Arran, one in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and one in Lothian.
Wales
The number of cases in Wales remains at two, with a second patient testing positive for COVID-19 yesterday.
Authorities in Wales said the second patient is a resident of Cardiff who had recently returned from northern Italy.
The patient is being treated in hospital, it was reported yesterday.
Coronavirus: Shop shelves empty as Brits panic buy – with toilet rolls selling out
Northern Ireland
There has been four cases of the virus confirmed in Northern Ireland today.
The total rose by one late this evening as a person linked to a previously diagnosed case tested positive for the virus after returning from a trip to Italy.
Belfast Live reports the police have issued a statement after calls for officers in Northern Ireland to have the same powers as their counterparts in England and Wales to detain people with the virus.
During a policing board meeting, top brass discussed powers available to officers elsewhere in the UK who have the ability to detain people suspected of having the virus who are unwilling to self-quarantine.
In a statement issued this morning PSNI reportedly reiterated that 'discussions are ongoing with Government officials' and said it's important to 'maintain perspective' on the developing situation.
“It is important to make preparations but it also important to maintain perspective in the face of this challenge. While we are not anticipating a worst-case scenario, we are preparing for it, as the community would want us to do,"Chief Superintendent Sam Donaldson said.
He added that whatever response police take will be in line with the law.
Chief Spt Donaldson said: "Any action undertaken by police in response to Covid-19 will be in line with our legal responsibilities and will be used to protect life and keep our communities safe.”
Meanwhile, the number of people infected with coronavirus across the world surpassed 100,000 today as the outbreak reached more countries.
Coronavirus hitting house prices as people's jobs put at risk
Latest advice for returning travellers
People who have returned to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days are being told to stay indoors and avoid contact with others, even if they do not have symptoms: Iran, Hubei province in China, lockdown areas in northern Italy, special care zones in South Korea.
The government says people should stay indoors and avoid contact with other people if they have travelled to the UK from the following places in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath, even if symptoms are mild: mainland China outside of Hubei province, Italy outside of the lockdown areas, South Korea outside of the special care zones, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam.
Government guidance says: "Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.
"Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
"In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.
"In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.
"In Northern Ireland call 111."
Source: Read Full Article