The first death from coronavirus in the UK has been announced and the NHS has said 'We have moved to a situation' where people with 'very minimal symptoms' should self-isolate at home rather than in hospital
The number of cases of coronavirus in the UK has soared to 116 while today the first death from the disease in the UK has been announced.
England has 105 cases, Scotland has six and Northern Ireland currently has three - with a second infection confirmed in Wales.
Meanwhile People diagnosed with coronavirus who exhibit only mild symptoms should self-isolate at home rather than in hospital, the Department of Health has said.
Chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty said: “We have moved to a situation where people have very minimal symptoms and we think they are clinically safe and they are able to self-isolate, we think it is actually safer for them as well as more pleasant if they can self-isolate in their own homes.
“Anybody who needs hospitalisation will be hospitalised.”
Downing Street has said it is "highly likely" that the coronavirus will spread in a "significant way" and officials are accelerating preparations to enter the delay phase to deal with the outbreak.
Early this evening, the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust confirmed an elderly patient with underlying health conditions has died after testing positive for coronavirus - which it is believed was contracted in the UK.
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