Fourth UK coronavirus death confirmed in Wolverhampton -

Credit: PA:Press Association

The patient, who was in their 70s and had underlying health conditions, died at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Medical Officer for England said: “It appears the virus was acquired in the UK and full contact tracing has begun.”

Last night, a man in his 60s, who tested positive in the UK died in Manchester, ta\king rising the death count to three people.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced today that another 46 people in the UK have tested positive for the virus.

Also today, the Prime Minister chaired another emergency Cobra meeting of senior ministers to discuss Britain’s response to the spreading outbreak.

The latest figures are showing that 61 of the UK’s confirmed cases are in London, with 43 in the South East, 38 in the South West and 35 in the North West of England.

This afternoon the government said that Britain was still officially in the containment phase and scientific advice to the public has not yet changed.

Im the COBRA meeting, the sustained spread of the deadly coronavirus and measures which may be taken in future to stop it further were discussed.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has said: “A range of steps discussed to contain and delay the spread of coronavirus in the coming days and weeks.”

Another COBRA meeting is expected to be scheduled for Wednesday, and meetings of Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) will happen tomorrow.

A European Union expert said the UK had only a “few days” to implement measures to prevent an outbreak like Italy’s, which is the worst outside of China with 7,375 confirmed cases and 366 deaths so far.