Confirmed coronavirus cases in UK rises to 206

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to 206.

The Department of Health confirmed the news just after 2pm on Saturday afternoon as part of their daily updates.

More than 21,000 people have now been tested for COVID-19.

A daily update of figures on its website said: “As of 7am 7 March 2020, a total of 21,460 people have been tested: 21,254 negative. 206 positive. Two patients who tested positive for coronavirus have sadly died.”

Five of those cases are believed to be in Scotland, which was announced early yesterday morning by the Scottish government.

Leicestershire has confirmed also confirmed its first case as well as four more in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

At the time of writing, the total of Greater Manchester cases still stood at 14.

The second-recorded UK death of coronavirus was reported on Friday. The patient is believed to have tested positive for the virus at Milton Keynes Hospital in Buckinghamshire evening and died shortly after.

Health secretary Matt Hancock confirmed the news in an interview with ITV News.

He said: “I’m very sorry to hear the news of a second death here in the UK of somebody with coronavirus - again somebody who was older and who had underlying health conditions. My condolences go out to the family and to his loved ones.”

A source told the MK Citizen that the man was an 88-year-old who had recently been on a cruise ship visiting several different countries.

The first death was announced on Thursday when a woman in her 70s died after contracting the infection at a hospital in Berkshire.