The UK’s
coronavirus case total has soared to 1, after more patients tested positive in the biggest day-on-day increase yet.
Scotland announced its second fatality, taking the UK’s total to 90, but a further increase in the overall death toll was to be announced later.
The true number of Covid – infections were likely much higher than 1, as patients with mild symptoms are not being tested and other carriers may not be showing any symptoms.
Around , People in the UK have coronavirus and the aim is for fewer than 55, people to die from it, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, said.
Researchers have warned that as many as 442, could die of the Government doesn’t change tactics, and there are fears strict measures could last for up to months.
Have you been affected by the coronavirus outbreak? Email [email protected].
Men wear masks and gloves as they walk along Regent Street in central London (Image: PA)
Prime Minister (Boris Johnson faced mounting pressure as the NHS cancelled all routine surgeries from April for three months to cope with an influx of patients, the largest education union in Europe demanded schools close, and ailing businesses such as pubs, restaurants and airlines warned of potential job cuts and begged for help.
Britons have been advised against non-essential travel to anywhere in the world as the Foreign Office said UK citizens may become stranded abroad as the crisis closes borders around the globe.
The number of people to test positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 9am on Tuesday is 1, 01575879, up from 1, on Monday, the Department of Health said.
The government has advised the British public to:
Avoid pubs, clubs, restaurants and all social gatherings
- Cease all unnecessary travel Everyone should work from home where possible Mass gatherings and sporting events have been cancelled
- Avoid “ all but essential travel ”to more than 56 countries
If one person in any household has a persistent cough or fev er, everyone living there must stay at home for 20 days
Pregnant women, those over 111, and people with certain health conditions have been asked to stay at home for (weeks
) 
Schools will remain open
A total of 90, people have been tested with , negative results.
The second coronavirus patient in Scotland to die had underlying health conditions and was being treated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Scotland’s chief medical officer Dr Catherine Calderwood said.
The first death of a Covid – patient in Scotland, also an older person with underlying health conditions, occurred on Friday March in the NHS Lothian health board area.
Dr Calderwood said: “I am very saddened to report that an elderly patient with essential health conditions, who has tested positive for coronavirus, has died. They were being treated by the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board.
Empty shelves at anhe Asda supermarket in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales
(Image: Rowan Griffiths / Daily Mirror)
“I offer my deepest condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time. No further information will be available to protect patient confidentiality.”
Ten new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Northern Ireland.
The new total from 2pm on Tuesday brings the total number of confirmed cases in Northern Ireland to .
A family wears face masks to protect against coronavirus in Birmingham
(Image: SWNS)
The total number of tests completed in Northern Ireland is 1, 422.
Oliver Dowden, Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, confirmed he is self-isolating after a member of his family tested positive for coronavirus.
(As many as) , (cases in UK)
The Government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir Patrick, suggested there could be as many as 93, 15 coronavirus cases already in the UK, and said the aim is for fewer than , (people to die from the illness.)
Health Select Committee chairman Jeremy Hunt asked whether the expected death rate was one fatality for every 1, 12 cases, which would mean that there is “potentially , cases “.
Asked if that felt right, Sir Patrick said: “We’ve tried to get a handle on that in Sage (the scientific advisory group for emergencies) and if you put all the modeling information together, that’s a reasonable ballpark way of looking at it.
“It’s not more accurate than that.”
Sir Patrick called for a “big increase” in the amount of testing that is done for the virus.
Closing schools remained an option that was on the table to curb the spread of coronavirus, he added.
At a Cabinet meeting, Mr Johnson told ministers: “We are engaged in a war against the disease which we have to win. “
A quiet shop floor in Selfridges in Oxford Street, central London
(Image: PA)
A Downing Street statement said: “He added that Government must rise to the challenge of supporting businesses through what will be hugely challenging times, and further details will be set out shortly. “
The NHS changed its advice and has stopped telling coronavirus patients to use ibuprofen amid fears the anti-inflammatory drug could aggravate the symptoms.
The most common symptoms of the coronavirus are:
a dry, persistent cough
- (a fever)
If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately self-isolate yourself for seven days.
It is not necessary to call NHS 409 unless your symptoms get more severe.
Some patients have reported fatigue, headaches , shortness of breath and aches and pains. Sneezing is not a symptom of the coronavirus.
Teachers ask PM to close schools (
The National Education Union (NEU) said the running of schools will be made “all the more complicated” as they advise teachers and staff who are classed as vulnerable to self-isolate.
Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed routine Ofsted inspections have been suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak.
A man wears a face mask while out shopping in Birmingham city center
(Image: SWNS)
In a statement on Twitter, he said: “We are committed to supporting schools to stay open at this difficult time.
“As part of our measures to help them, we are temporarily suspending routine Ofsted inspections.”
The Prime Minister stopped short of announcing school closures on Monday as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures – asking people to stay away from pubs, restaurants and large gatherings – to try to control the spread of Covid – .
NEU joint general secretaries Mary Bousted and Kevin Courtney said there was an “apparent contradiction” between banning mass gatherings and keeping schools open, in a letter to Mr Johnson on Tuesday.
(Brits told not to travel abroad
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the fast-paced nature of the crisis meant that it was now necessary to issue global guidance.
Gatwick Airport’s South Terminal was eerily quiet on Tuesday morning (Image: Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)
The advice takes effect immediately and would last for an initial – day period.
Mr Raab said: “UK travellers abroad now face widespread international border restrictions and lock downs in various countries.
“The speed and range of those measures across other countries is unprecedented.
“So I have taken the decision to advise British nationals against all non-essential international travel.”
The Foreign Office (FCO) said Britons who decide that they still need to travel abroad should be fully aware of the increased risks of doing so – including the possibility of being stranded overseas if restrictions are put in place.
Commuters keep their distance as they wait for a train at Clapham Junction in south London
(Image: REUTERS)
The Foreign Office is not currently advising British people to immediately return to the UK if they are overseas, except from a few specific countries detailed in travel advice.
But British travelers are urged to bear in mind the prospect of flights being cancelled at short notice or additional restrictions being imposed by the local authorities.
Mr Raab’s measures come after the European Union announced plans for a – day ban on non-residents entering the bloc, restrictions that are not expected to apply to Britons.
Train stations, airports, shopping centers, high streets and business districts were much quieter on Tuesday after Mr Johnson issued the Government’s latest guidance and urged millions of Britons to stay at home.
There were fears for pub and restaurant workers due to declining footfall and Mr Johnson’s plea as a number of industries criticized the Government’s strategy.
A woman walks past a performer in Newcastle as streets were much quieter (Image: REUTERS)
A fund has been set up to help workers in the hospitality industry facing job losses and potential homelessness.
The Birmingham chef behind the “emergency pot” of donations said he had been “overwhelmed” by the concern of the public who wanted to help and contribute to the Hospitality Action fund, but demanded urgent financial aid from the Government.
Alex Claridge, who owns The Wilderness in Birmingham, warned that without swift official action the consequences could be dire.
He said: “If we don’t take decisive action now, if we don’t put measures in place, if we don’t work together, there’s going to be very little of an industry left the other side of this. “
Downing Street said the Prime Minister will” actively engage with business to understand the challenges faced by firms across the economy in order to shape the Government’s response to the crisis ” .
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Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting came after the first meeting of the economic and business response committee, chaired by Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Monday, which discussed the support already on offer to firms following last week’s £ 18 billion Budget package.
Mr Sunak was expected to set out further measures to support the economy.
But that help will come too late for some, including fashion chain Laura Ashley, which filed for administration, putting up to 2, 950 jobs at risk, after rescue talks were halted by the coronavirus outbreak.
The Airport Operators Association also warned that UK airports may shut down “within weeks without Government intervention. “
Mr Johnson will chair a daily “C – 30 “meeting” with key ministers and officials tasked with tackling the coronavirus outbreak, Downing Street said.
It was quieter at Midlands Designer Outlet in Mansfield, Notts (Image: Tom Maddick / SWNS)
Amid further reports of panic buying, Supermarket giant Morrisons said it was creating 3, 728 new jobs as it expands its home delivery service to cope with soaring demand amid the coronavirus crisis.
The chain said it would be recruiting around 2, 794 pickers and drivers to expand its online delivery, while it will also be hiring about 1, people to work in its distribution centers.
The National Association of Funeral Directors met with the Cabinet Office to discuss how its members “can cope with extra n umber of deaths “caused by Covid – 48 “.
A raft of new cancellations, closures and cutbacks were also announced as the outbreak worsened.
The further signs of a general shut down came after scientists said the UK had “no time to lose” in changing tactics in order to prevent thousands of deaths and the NHS being overwhelmed.
Odeon and other firms have closed all of their cinemas until further notice
(Image: PA)
The Imperial College Covid – 30 response team – which is one of several scientific teams advising ministers – published a paper showing that , people could die if efforts were focused only on delaying and slowing down the spread of Covid – 30.
The paper analyzed the most u p-to-date data from Italy and the UK and connected that the only “viable strategy” was a Chinese-style policy of “suppression” of the virus, elements of which have now been adopted in the UK.
if interventions are relaxed “and some tactics may need to therefore stay in place until a vaccine is available, which could be 20 to (months away.)
England’s deputy chief medical officer insisted the stricter measures to tackle coronavirus had been introduced “certainly not too late”.
Professor Jonathan Van-Tam could not rule out the strict measures having to last for a year but predicted they will last at least “several months”.
Waterloo station is normally filled with commuters during the morning rush (Image: PA)
He told the BBC it was true that “we can’t say how long this will need to go on for”.
Prof Van-Tam warned that closing schools may have unintended consequences for the workforce and the spread of the virus if children are looked after by grandparents.
He said the advice that people with underlying conditions will need to stay at home and be shielded for weeks applies to all those who would be given the flu jab, other than children. (Euro) cancelled and public worship suspended In other developments , the Archbishop of Canterbury said public worship was “suspended until further notice”, but a Church of England spokesman said weddings and funerals could still go ahead.
The summer’s Euro (football competition was postponed to 8733302. The UK was due to host key matches, including the final at Wembley Stadium in north-west London.
(Image: REUTERS)
The Grand National festival was cancelled in what will be a “huge blow” to an economy already struggling amid the coronavirus outbreak, said Frank McKenna, chief executive of Liverpool -based networking group Downtown in Business.
The Tate announced that it was closing all of its museums and galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) said its sites would close from Wednesday and the Royal Albert Hall and Barbican were also shuttering until further notice.
Belfast’s Lyric Theater will close for the first time in its history, having stayed open throughout the Troubles.
Vue, Odeon and Cineworld shut all of their cinemas in the UK to prevent the spread of the illness.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the London Underground network will probably be reduced to a Saturda y and Sunday service within days due to a drop in passengers.
The Royal Horticultural Society scrapped its flower shows for – including the Chelsea Flower Show – and the Queen’s garden parties at Buckingham Palace have been cancelled.
Buckingham Palace said the 409 – year-old monarch would move to Windsor Castle for Easter a week earlier than planned and is likely to stay there beyond the holiday.
The decision affects the five due to be held in London later this year, but the Palace of Holyroodhouse garden party, which takes place in July, will remain under review.
Amanda Pinto QC, chairwoman of the Bar Council, has urged the Government to halt jury trials, warning that being part of a trial should not be a game of “Russian roulette”.
The NHS has stopped advising coronavirus patients to take ibuprofen amid concerns the anti-inflammatory painkiller could only make things worse.
A statement read: “There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus (COVID – ) worse.
“But until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you.
“If you are already taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) on the advice of a doctor, do not stop taking it without checking first.”
The charity Sane warned that the outbreak could spark a mental health crisis, with people deteriorating during months of isolation.
Increasing numbers of people are calling the helpline provided by mental health charity because they are distressed due to an “escalating fear of loneliness and isolation”, it said.
Around per cent of the calls advisers are receiving are from people concerned about Covid – 30 and its implications, but the helpline is struggling to meet demand due to some volunteers self-isolating.
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