First Person In UK Dies After Testing Positive For Coronavirus

A patient has become the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The patient, who had underlying health conditions, had been "in an out of hospital" for other reasons but was admitted on Wednesday evening to the Royal Berkshire NHS Trust and tested positive.

It comes after the Government said it is now "highly likely" coronavirus will spread in a "significant way".

Boris Johnson was briefed by officials this afternoon about COVID-19.

The focus remains on containing the virus, however, work on preparations for the 'delay' phase of the coronavirus action plan will now be accelerated.

The total number of virus cases in the UK is now at 115, with all seven NHS regions in England reporting COVID-19 cases.

A spokesperson for Number 10 Downing Street said this evening: "The scientific advisory group for emergencies (SAGE) met to discuss the latest on the Coronavirus outbreak.

"Following this meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed by senior officials including the chief medical officer and the chief scientific adviser.

"We will continue to try to contain this virus, however, it is now highly likely that the virus is going to spread in a significant way.

"Officials will, therefore, accelerate work on preparations for the delay phase of the Government's plan focusing on steps we could take to seek to delay the spread of the virus.

"This will include detailed work on the optimum time to introduce further measures."

The Prime Minister offered his sympathies to the family of the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for COVID-19.

However, he stressed that "the situation is pretty much as it has been in the sense that we are still in the contain phase, though now our scientists and medical advisers are making preparations for the delay phase."

"What they are looking at in the next few days, in the near future, is what kind of measures might be necessary to retard the spread of the disease," Mr Johnson added.

"As soon as they’ve decided that the moment is right to announce those, we will be absolutely clear with the public about what needs to be done. But for the moment things are as they have been."

The Prime Minister said yesterday that the British Army is "ready to backfill" for the police "as and when" required, as part of "long-established plans" for worst-case scenarios.

However, Mr Johnson later stated the MOD and British military "will be going about their business in the normal way" in the meantime.

The Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday they are prepared for the outbreak of COVID-19, and that they have "well-rehearsed plans in place for dealing with health matters".

Cover image: PA.