UK surpasses 1,100 confirmed cases of coronavirus

The UK has now surpassed 1,100 confirmed cases of coronavirus as the pandemic spreads globally, bringing the total number of cases in the UK to 1,140 on Saturday afternoon, up from 820 this morning.

10 more people have died in the UK, bringing the total confirmed coronavirus deaths to 21 across the UK.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England, said the ten who died “were in the at-risk groups.”

Professor Whitty said, “I understand this increase in the number of deaths linked to COVID-19 will be a cause for concern for many.

“The public should know every measure we are taking is seeking to save lives and protect the most vulnerable.

“Every single one of us has a role to play in achieving this. If you have a new continuous cough or high temperature, please stay at home for seven days. I also encourage everyone to be washing their hands for 20 seconds regularly.

“I offer my sincere condolences to the families and friends who have received this difficult news. I ask that their privacy is respected at this time.”

The total number infected globally now stands at 147,838, with more than 5,500 deaths. So far 71,718 people have totally recovered.

On Saturday morning Public Health Wales announced 22 more confirmed cases bring the total there to 60.

Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the novel coronavirus outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said that health officials were trying to identify the close contacts of all the new cases.

Dr Williams said, “We can confirm that 22 new cases have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 60.

“The process of identifying and contacting close contacts of the new cases is underway, and we are taking all appropriate actions to protect the public’s health.”

The British government are planning to introduce emergency laws from next week to ban gatherings of more than 500 people.

A Whitehall source said the government has drafted the emergency legislation.

The Times newspaper reported the new law will give police and immigration officers power to detain anyone that is suspected of having the virus, the law could remain in place for two years.

Leading scientists have compared the UK is looking likely to be on the same trajectory and have compared the rate of coronavirus infections to that of Italy.

University College London biology professor, Dr Francis Balloux said, “The trajectory of the epidemic in the UK is so far roughly comparable to the one in Northern Italy, but with the epidemic in Northern Italy two to three weeks ahead of the situation in the UK.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said Europe is now the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak.