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| Coronavirus: Biggest daily rise as UK cases reach 460 | Coronavirus: Biggest daily rise as UK cases reach 460 |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has now reached 460, after the biggest rise in a single day. | The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has now reached 460, after the biggest rise in a single day. |
| Six patients with coronavirus have died in hospitals in the UK - the latest was a man in his early 80s in Watford who had underlying health conditions. | Six patients with coronavirus have died in hospitals in the UK - the latest was a man in his early 80s in Watford who had underlying health conditions. |
| NHS England plans to expand the number of people it can test in a day to 10,000, up from 1,500. | NHS England plans to expand the number of people it can test in a day to 10,000, up from 1,500. |
| It comes as the World Health Organization upgraded the status of the outbreak to a pandemic. | It comes as the World Health Organization upgraded the status of the outbreak to a pandemic. |
| It is expected that confirmation of positive test results will be sped up in the UK with most people receiving them within 24 hours. | It is expected that confirmation of positive test results will be sped up in the UK with most people receiving them within 24 hours. |
| Meanwhile, a 53-year-old British woman has become the first person with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, to die in Indonesia, according to local media reports. | Meanwhile, a 53-year-old British woman has become the first person with Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, to die in Indonesia, according to local media reports. |
| It is not clear whether the woman - who was reportedly critically ill with multiple health conditions - died due to the virus. | It is not clear whether the woman - who was reportedly critically ill with multiple health conditions - died due to the virus. |
| On Wednesday, the Department of Health confirmed there had been 83 more cases since Tuesday. In all, 27,476 people have been tested so far. | On Wednesday, the Department of Health confirmed there had been 83 more cases since Tuesday. In all, 27,476 people have been tested so far. |
| Later, Wales confirmed four new cases. | Later, Wales confirmed four new cases. |
| There are now 387 confirmed cases in England, 36 in Scotland, 18 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales. | |
| Scotland and Wales have also seen their first cases of community transmission - meaning the virus was contracted in the UK and is unrelated to travel. | |
| Of the cases in England, London has the highest number, with 104. South-east England is the next highest infected area, with 60 cases, followed by south-west England with 44 cases. | Of the cases in England, London has the highest number, with 104. South-east England is the next highest infected area, with 60 cases, followed by south-west England with 44 cases. |
| Earlier, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered the Budget and pledged the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs" during the crisis - whether it needed "millions of pounds or billions". | Earlier, Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered the Budget and pledged the NHS would get "whatever resources it needs" during the crisis - whether it needed "millions of pounds or billions". |
| He said workers who fell ill would be able to get a sick note by ringing 111 rather than visiting a GP, and people who were self-employed who were off work because of the virus would be eligible for benefits from day one. | He said workers who fell ill would be able to get a sick note by ringing 111 rather than visiting a GP, and people who were self-employed who were off work because of the virus would be eligible for benefits from day one. |
| For businesses, Mr Sunak promised a temporary coronavirus loan scheme to help small and medium-sized companies and said the government would rebate firms with up to 250 people for the cost of statutory sick pay. | For businesses, Mr Sunak promised a temporary coronavirus loan scheme to help small and medium-sized companies and said the government would rebate firms with up to 250 people for the cost of statutory sick pay. |
| Advice to tourists in Italy | Advice to tourists in Italy |
| The Foreign Office has issued a travel update for British nationals in Italy, urging all remaining tourists to contact their airline operators and return back to the UK. | The Foreign Office has issued a travel update for British nationals in Italy, urging all remaining tourists to contact their airline operators and return back to the UK. |
| People were still able to leave Italy without restrictions and airports were still open, the Foreign Office added. | People were still able to leave Italy without restrictions and airports were still open, the Foreign Office added. |
| Italy is the European country worst-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with the whole of the country currently in lockdown. | Italy is the European country worst-hit by the coronavirus outbreak, with the whole of the country currently in lockdown. |
| Earlier this week, tourist Hannah Butcher from Newbury, who was in Rome, said it was "the weirdest holiday" she had ever been on, with one-in one-out rules to get into shops and families having to sit apart in restaurants. | Earlier this week, tourist Hannah Butcher from Newbury, who was in Rome, said it was "the weirdest holiday" she had ever been on, with one-in one-out rules to get into shops and families having to sit apart in restaurants. |
| The UK is currently in the "contain" phase of its four-part plan to deal with coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19. | The UK is currently in the "contain" phase of its four-part plan to deal with coronavirus, which causes the disease Covid-19. |
| Later on Wednesday, Boris Johnson is expected to welcome tech companies including Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to No 10 to discuss efforts to tackle fake news about coronavirus and how to keep the public informed. | Later on Wednesday, Boris Johnson is expected to welcome tech companies including Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft and Amazon to No 10 to discuss efforts to tackle fake news about coronavirus and how to keep the public informed. |
| Health Secretary Matt Hancock will also give a statement to MPs. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock will also give a statement to MPs. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| What are your experiences relating to the coronavirus outbreak? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | What are your experiences relating to the coronavirus outbreak? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |