Virus cases rise as new death feared
MORE than 160 people have now tested positive for coronavirus in the UK, in the largest day-on-day increase.
In total, 163 people had tested positive for Covid-19 as of 9am yesterday, up from 115 at the same time on Thursday.
It comes as the PA news agency understands that samples taken from an elderly patient who died at Milton Keynes Hospital were being investigated for coronavirus.
On Thursday, another patient, reported to be a woman in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with Covid-19 while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
Last week, a British tourist who had been on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Japan, became the first UK citizen to die from the virus.
Meanwhile, a church in Devon has closed after a parishioner was diagnosed with the virus, while the Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, near Watford, closed after a member tested positive. Two members of British Airways staff also tested positive – understood to be baggage handlers.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited a Bedfordshire laboratory as the Government
pledged an extra £46 million for research into coronavirus vaccines and rapid diagnostic tests.
Meanwhile, the Government has pledged the public will continue to have “the food and supplies they need” during the outbreak amid fears of panic buying and empty shelves.
One supermarket executive told the BBC sales of basics such as pasta and tinned goods had “gone through the roof”, adding: “While I think people don’t need to panic buy and should just shop normally, I’m not sure the Government can guarantee all food supply in all instances.”
However, Environment Secretary George Eustice held talks with supermarket and trade body bosses over food supply contingencies yesterday, and said he was reassured retailers were taking “all the necessary steps” to keep shelves well-stocked.
New blog posts from Public Health England suggested people may need to get supplies for loved ones in future if more people are told to stay at home.
The posts urged people to “plan ahead”, adding: “Everyone has a part to play, and we’re asking people to think about what they do in a typical week, how they could limit contact with others if asked to, and how they could help people in their community who might need support if socialdistancing measures were put in place.”
Meanwhile, 142 people from the UK – including 121 passengers and 21 crew – are among 3,533 people on the Grand Princess cruise ship currently quarantined off the coast of California.
Princess Cruises said it was following advice from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and samples were collected on Thursday from 45 people deemed to be at risk.
Globally, the number of cases has passed 100,000, with 3,400 deaths.