LONDON, 27 March. - (ANA) - A total of 759 people who tested positive for coronavirus have now died in the UK, according to health officials, marking a 181 rise in deaths from Thursday’s figures.​

 

The Department of Health and Social Care also announced that 14,579 people have now tested positive for Covid-19, an increase of 2,921 confirmed cases.

 

Among these latest figures, a further eight people have died in Scotland, bringing the country’s total to 33, the first minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Friday.

 

She added that the number of confirmed infections had risen from 894 to 1,059.

 

Public Health Wales said six more people had died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the country’s total to 34, while Northern Irish authorities confirmed three additional deaths over the past 24 hours, bringing the region’s number to 13.

 

This comes as both prime minister Boris Johnson and health minister Matt Hancock announced they had been infected with the virus.

 

Both politicians said their symptoms were mild and that they would be continuing to work from home while self-isolating.

 

Mr Johnson is believed to be the first major world leader to test positive for the virus. Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has been designated to take up the reins of power if the prime minister is incapacitated, but Mr Johnson’s spokesman said that had not so far been necessary and he was “getting on with the job”.

 

The government has ordered 8,000 additional ventilators to boost the current stock of 8,000 already available to the health service.

 

Officials said thousands more would be available in the “coming weeks”, with the peak of the virus expected to hit within the next fortnight.

 

 

AB/ANA/27 March 2020 - - -