UK coronavirus cases rise to 115 as Government moves into phase 2 of battle plan

The number of coronavirus cases in the UK has reached 115 after 25 new infections were announced this afternoon.

UK health officials are moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak.

A statement from the Department of Health and Social Care said the figure was accurate as of 9am this morning.

It added that 18,083 across the UK have been tested for Covid-19 so far.

The new figure includes three new cases announced in Scotland earlier today.

There are 25 cases in London, the update said.

In a statement, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said: “As of 9am this morning, 25 further patients in England have tested positive for COVID-19. 17 were diagnosed who had recently travelled from recognised countries or from recognised clusters which were under investigation

“Eight contracted the virus in the UK and it is not yet clear whether they contracted it directly or indirectly from an individual who had recently returned from abroad.”

This announcement follows the largest day-on-day rise yesterday when 36 new cases were confirmed in the UK, 34 in Britain and two in Northern Ireland.

Ahead of the latest daily figures being published, chief medical officer Chris Whitty told the Commons health and social care committee: “I’m expecting the number only to go up.”

Of the total patients in England, there are: