The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK has risen to 90.
More cases are expected to be announced at 2pm, when Public Health England releases its updated totals.
The news comes as worldwide more than 95,000 people have been diagnosed with the virus.
Yesterday, the Department of Health revealed the biggest day-on-day increase in cases, when the figure rose to 87.
Three new cases have been confirmed today (March 5) in Scotland.
Professor Chris Whitty, England’s chief medical officer, spoke to MPs about the outbreak earlier this morning.
He confirmed the UK’s response had “mainly” moved to its second phase, “delay”, from “contain”, Mirror Online reports.
Here are some of the other points he made:
- Older people or the already ill may soon be told to avoid crowded places to avoid infection
- This could force individual MPs and particularly Lords - average age 70 - to avoid Parliament
- The virus can stay on handrails on public transport for up to 72 hours - but “just touching it will not give you the virus: it is if you touch it and then touch your face, having not washed your hands between them."
- Up to 80 per cent of Brits may get the virus, but probably fewer
- One per cent of those infected could die, but that’s an “upper limit”
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Symptoms of coronavirus
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- shortness of breath
But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
