LONDON, 23 March. - (ANA) - The UK now has 6,650 confirmed cases of coronavirus, the government has announced.

 

It represents a leap of 967 from the 5,683 announced on Sunday.

 

As of 1pm on Monday, the number of coronavirus deaths in the UK had risen to 335, a jump of 54 from Sunday's death toll of 281.

 

The Department of Health and Social Care added that as of 9am on Monday, 83,945 people had been tested with 77,295 negative results.

 

The number of globally confirmed cases has reached higher than 340,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.

 

There are also more than 98,000 confirmed recoveries and in excess of 14,000 deaths.

 

The rise comes as health secretary Matt Hancock appeared on BBC Radio 4 to criticise people who had ignored social distancing advice.

 

"It's very selfish," he said. "The NHS is doing everything it can and preparing for the spread of this virus.

 

"If people go within two metres of others who they don't live with then they're helping to spread the virus – and the consequences of that costs lives and it means that, for everyone, this will go on for longer."

 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also urged people to keep apart from each other.

 

He said on BBC Andrew Marr on Sunday: "I am really quite clear: people should not be leaving their homes unless they have to.

 

"Sometimes there is a good reason to leave your home, such as to walk your dog or get some exercise, but what we really shouldn't be doing is having social interaction.

 

"Be under no doubt – by mixing it leads to more people dying."

 

Boris Johnson warned tougher restrictions could be implemented if people did not follow government advice.  - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/23 March 2020 - - -