UK coronavirus case total hits 798 in biggest daily jump so far
The number of confirmed UK coronavirus cases has risen by 208 to bring the total to 798.
The overnight rise represents the biggest single day increase in UK coronavirus cases so far.
The Department of Health said a total of 32,771 people have now been tested for Covid-19.
Of those, 31,973 were found not to have the disease, with almost 800 now testing positive. The death toll is currently 10.
London now counts 136 reported cases of coronavirus, with a further 83 in the south east.
It comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the government’s new measures to respond to the UK coronavirus outbreak yesterday.
Thousands more UK coronavirus cases could emerge
The UK introduced tactics to delay the UK coronavirus outbreak yesterday. It has advised people with coronavirus symptoms to stay at home.
But the PM stopped short of closing schools as Ireland has, or of banning mass public gatherings.
Johnson said: “We’ve all got to be clear, this is the worst public health crisis for a generation.
“It is going to spread further and I must level with you. I must level with the British public: many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
Chief medical officer Chris Whitty warned as many as 10,000 Brits could have the disease now. And it is no longer relevant where people have recently travelled from despite a surge of cases in Italy.
Anyone with a new persistent cough or high temperature should self-isolate for at least seven days.
The government has also insisted that at this stage there was no need to cancel sporting events.
Despite this, organisers suspended professional football matches throughout the UK today. A number of other global events have also been impacted.
The Welsh Rugby Unionpostponed its Six Nations match with Scotland just 24 hours prior to kick off today. It had claimed only this morning that the match would go ahead.
Foreign Office advises against Spanish travel
Today’s new UK coronavirus case total came after the Foreign Office advised against all but essential travel to parts of Spain.
Cases have surged in the country, where Madrid now has almost 2,000 Covid-19 infections. Overall, Sapin now counts 3,004 cases.
“The Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to the regions of Madrid, La Rioja & the municipalities of La Bastida, Vitoria & Miranda de Ebro,” the departmenr said.
Airlines are still running flights to and from these destinations.
The advice follows Spain’s warning that these regions are now “areas of community transmission”. That means people are passing the cases to one another, rather than catching them in other countries.