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Coronavirus: Man in his 60s becomes third UK death Coronavirus: Boris Johnson to hold emergency Cobra meeting
(about 3 hours later)
A man in his 60s has become the third person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus. The Prime Minister will chair an emergency Cobra meeting later to decide whether to bring in measures to delay the spread of coronavirus in the UK.
The man, who had "significant" underlying health problems, died at North Manchester General Hospital, NHS England said. The meeting is expected to consider whether "social distancing" measures should now be introduced .
He had recently returned from Italy and was being treated at the hospital's specialist infectious diseases unit. These could include banning of big events, closing schools and encouraging home working.
It comes after UK cases rose to 278 on Sunday, up from 209 on Saturday - the biggest rise yet. It comes after a man in his 60s became the UK's third death linked to the Covid-19 virus.
The UK's chief medical adviser Prof Chris Whitty said health officials were tracing people who may have been in contact with the man while he was carrying the virus. Ministers will also meet with sports bodies and UK supermarkets to discuss their response to the outbreak.
As of Sunday morning, 23,513 people had been tested across the UK, with 273 cases. On Sunday, the number of confirmed cases in the UK rose to 278, from 209 on Saturday - the biggest rise so far.
And on Sunday evening, five more cases in Northern Ireland were announced, bringing the total in the country to 12 and 278 in the UK. The UK is currently in the first phase - "containment" - of the government's four-part plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus.
In Wales two more people have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total number there to four. The meeting is expected to consider whether the UK should officially move into the "delay" phase, which could mean the introduction of "social distancing".
Meanwhile Britons have been warned by the Foreign Office to avoid large parts of northern Italy under a coronavirus quarantine, unless their journey is essential. Such a step would require agreement from chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty and chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance, who are due to be at the meeting.
The government has previously said such action could include banning of sporting and other events where large numbers of people gather, and encouraging people to work from home rather than use crowded trains and buses.
Meanwhile sports governing bodies will meet with ministers to discuss the possibility of staging events behind closed doors.
Environment Secretary George Eustice will also discuss contingency plans with supermarket chief executives, including proposals on how to support vulnerable groups who may have to self-isolate.
Flights cancelled
The latest person to die - a man in his 60s with "significant" underlying health problems - had recently returned from Italy, Public Health England said on Sunday.
The man was being at specialist infectious diseases unit in North Manchester General Hospital after testing positive for coronavirus.
Prof Whitty said health officials were tracing people who may have been in contact with the man while he was carrying the virus.
The Foreign Office has warned Britons to avoid large parts of northern Italy under a coronavirus quarantine, unless their journey is essential.
Those travelling from locked-down areas have also been advised to self-isolate if they returned to the UK in the last 14 days - even if they have shown no symptoms.Those travelling from locked-down areas have also been advised to self-isolate if they returned to the UK in the last 14 days - even if they have shown no symptoms.
Italy now has the highest number of confirmed cases outside China at 7,375, and its death toll rose from 133 on Sunday to 366.Italy now has the highest number of confirmed cases outside China at 7,375, and its death toll rose from 133 on Sunday to 366.
British nationals are still able to depart Italy without restriction, bur some airlines have cancelled flights from affected areas. British nationals are still able to depart Italy without restriction, but some airlines have cancelled flights from affected areas.
On Sunday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged to give the NHS "whatever resources it needs" to cope with a coronavirus epidemic, ahead of Wednesday's Budget. Amid concerns that fake news about the coronavirus is causing confusion, a specialist unit to combat disinformation has been set up.
Teams from across Whitehall have been brought together to identify and respond to disinformation in a bid to limit its spread.
'Fantastic job'
NHS 111 staff are doing a "fantastic job" in managing increased call volumes over the outbreak, Prof Stephen Powis, NHS medical director, told BBC News.
He said a new online coronavirus service has been used by more than one million people since its launch last week.
Prof Powis said the service should be the "first point of access" and was capable of determining whether the user should have a virus test.
As of Sunday, 23,513 people had been tested across the UK, with 273 cases proving positive for the virus.
And on Sunday evening, five more cases in Northern Ireland were announced, bringing the total in the country to 12 and 278 in the UK.
In Wales two more people have tested positive for the coronavirus, taking the total number there to four.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak pledged to give the NHS "whatever resources it needs" to cope with a coronavirus epidemic, ahead of Wednesday's Budget.
Mr Sunak also said he was looking at temporary measures to support people who may be unable to go to work or businesses which may suffer as a result of the measures.Mr Sunak also said he was looking at temporary measures to support people who may be unable to go to work or businesses which may suffer as a result of the measures.
The government also outlined emergency legislation to tackle coronavirus, including measures to allow people to leave their jobs and volunteer to care for those affected. The government outlined emergency legislation to tackle coronavirus over the weekend, including measures to allow people to leave their jobs and volunteer to care for those affected.
It comes ahead of an expected move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to a "delay" phase soon, in which the focus would be on trying to slow down its spread. In other developments:
This phase could see the introduction of "social distancing" measures such as closing schools and urging people to work from home.
In other developments on Sunday:
On Friday, a 83-year-old great-grandfather became the second person to die in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus.
The man, who also had underlying health conditions, died on Thursday while being treated at Milton Keynes University Hospital.
His family paid tribute to him as a "truly loving and wonderful person".
On Thursday evening, another patient, a woman understood to be in her 70s, became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with the virus while at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
Globally, there are more than 107,000, with about 3,600 deaths.
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